24-  -t: 

Q  3       .PALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 


A3     S 

FLETCHER  HAMILTON 


FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 


State  Mineralogist 


San  Francisco] 


BULLETIN  No.  90 


[August,  1921 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1920 


WITH  COUNTY  MAPS 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


CALIFOKNIA   STATE   PRINTINO  OFFICB 
SACRAMENTO.    1921 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING   BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
FLETCHER  HAMILTON  State  Mineralogist 


San  Francisco]  BULLETIN  No.  90  [August,  1921 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1920 


WITH   COUNTY   MAPS 


BY 

WALTER   W.  BRADLEY 


12865 


UNIVERSITY^SQfi.  CALIFOI 
DA  VI 3 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  PRINTING  OFFICE 
SACRAMENTO,  1921 

UBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA 
DAVIS 


Exhibit  of  California  structural  materials  in  State 
Mining  Bureau,  Ferry  Building',  San  Francisco. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

LETTER   OF   TRANSMITTAL 7 

INTRODUCTION   9 

Chapter  I. 

SUMMARY  OF  THE  MINERAL  INDUSTRY   IX   CALIFORNIA   DURING  THE 

YEAR  OF  1920 11 

Tabulation  of  the  Mineral   Production   Showing  Comparative  Amounts 

AND  Values — 1919  and  1920 14 

Table  Showing  Comparative  Mineral  Producttion  of  the  Various  Counties 

IN  California  for  1919  and  1920 15 

Total  Production,  1887-1920 16 

Dividends    1" 

Chapter  II. 
FUELS   (HYDROCARBONS)  — 

Introductory 19 

Coal 19 

Natural  Gas 21 

Petroleum    25 

Chapter  III. 
metals- 
Introductory   47 

Aluminum    48 

Antimony 49 

Arsenic 50 

Bismuth   50 

Cadmium   50 

Cobalt 51 

Copper 52 

Gold 55 

Iridium.      (See  Platinum.) 

Iron   61 

Lead 62 

Manganese 63 

Molyldenum 67 

Nickel 68 

Osmium    6S 

Palladium    68 

Platinum     68 

Quicksilver 71 

Silver    76 

Tin  78 

Tungsten   79 

Vanadium 81 

Zinc    81 


4  MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNL\. 

Chapter  IV. 
STRUCTURAL.    MATERIALS —  Page 

Introductory 83 

Asphalt    ■ 84 

Bituminous  Rock 85 

Brick  and  Tile 85 

Cement 88 

Chromite    90 

Granite 93 

Lime 95 

Magnesite 96 

Marble    100 

Onyx  and  Travertine 102 

Sandstone    103 

Serpentine 103 

Slate 104 

Stone — IvIiscellaneous 105 

Paving   Blocks    105 

Grinding-Mill   Pebbles 106 

Sand  and  Gravel 107 

Crushed  Rock  ___ ;—  108 

ChaI'TER  V. 

INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS— 

Introductory  112 

Asbestos   113 

;      Barytes ^ 116 

Clay — Pottery    116 

Dolomite 119 

Feldspar 120 

Flurospar 122 

Fuller's  Earth   122 

Gems 124 

Graphite    125 

Gypsum   127 

Infusorial  and  Diatomaceous  Earths 129 

Limestone    - — —   130 

LiTHIA 132 

Mica 133 

Mineral  Paint 133 

Mineral  Water 134 

Phosphates 137 

Pumice  and  Volcanic  Ash 137 

Pyrites    138 

Silica — Sand  and  Quartz 139 

Soapstone  and  Talc 140 

Strontium    142 

Sulphur   143 

Chapter  VI. 
salines- 
Introductory    145 

Borax    145 

Magnesium  Salts 147 

Nitrates 148 

Potash    148 

Salt 150 

SODA    152 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  5 

Chapter  VII . 
MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES —  Page 

Introductory  154 

Alameda 155 

Alpine 156 

Amador   156 

Butte 157 

Calaveras    157 

Colusa 158 

Contra  Costa — : _  158 

Del  Norte -- 159 

El  Dorado 159 

Fresno _ 160 

Glenn    160 

Humboldt -- 16.1 

Imperial   161 

Into   -- 162 

Kern    163 

Kings -- 163 

Lake 164 

Lassen    164 

Los  Angeles  165 

Madera 165 

Marin 166 

Mariposa 166 

Mendocino    167 

Merced 167 

Modoc 168 

Mono    168 

monteret   168 

Napa 169 

Nevada 169 

Orange     170 

Placer 171 

Plumas   , 171 

Riverside 172 

Sacramento  172 

San  Benito , — 173 

San  Bernardino , 173 

San  Diego : 174 

San  Francisco . . 175 

San  Joaquin 175 

San  Luis  Obispo 175 

San  Mateo 176 

Santa   Barbara    176 

Santa  Clara 177 

Santa  Cruz '. 177 

Shasta 178 

Sierra    179 

Siskiyou   17  9 

Solano 180 

Sonoma   180 

Stanislaus . ISO 

Sutter 181 

Tbhama 181 

Trinity    182 

Tulare 182 

Tuolumne 133 

Ventura   183 

Yolo  184 

Yuba    184 

API'ENDIX. 

MINING   BUREAU   ACT 185 

PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 188 

COUNTY  MAPS 195 

INDEX     215 


b  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page 
Exhibit  of  California  Structural  Materials  in  State  Mining  Bureau,  Perry 

Building,  San  Francisco Frontispiece 

Caribou  Power  House  of  the  Great  Western  Power  Company,  Plumas  Countj' 12 

Richmond  Refinery  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  at  Point  Richmond,  Contra  Costa 

County 24 

Well  Flowing  Over  10,000  Barrels  of  Oil  per  Day,  Elk  Hills 31 

Summerland  Oil  Field  in  Santa  Barbara  County 40 

New  Mill  of  the  Engels  Copper  Company,  Plumas  County 53 

Tramway  Terminal  and  Head  Frame  at  the  Superior  Mine,  Engels  Copper  Com- 
pany,  Plumas   County , 54 

Dredged  Land  as  left  by  Re-soiling  Dredge 57 

Magnetite    and    Limestone    Quarries    of   the    Noble    Electric    Steel    Corporation    on 

Property  of  the  Shasta  Iron  Company,  Shasta  County 61 

Open-cut  Stope  of  Buckeye  Manganese  Mine 64 

New  Idria  Quicksilver  Mining  Company  Plant,   San  Benito  County 73 

Port  Costa  Brick  Works,  Port  Costa 86 

Concrete  Bridge  on  the  State  Highway  near  Placerville 89 

Scott  Fine-ore  Quicksilver  Furnace.  Rebuilt  and  in  L'''se  for  Calcining  Magnesite 
Fines  at  Western  Magnesite  Development  Company  Property,  Santa  Clara 
County 98 

In  Quarry  of  Columbia  Marble  Company 101 

Columnar  Basalt  at  Dunsmuir,  Siskiyou  County 110 

Sand  and  Gravel  Plant  of  Fresno  Rock  Products  Company 111 

Sacramento    City    Library,    Finished   with   Architectural    Terra   Cotta    and    Bricks 

from  Plant  of  Gladding-McBean  Company 118 

Pottery  Plant  of  Gladding-McBc-an  Company  at  Lincoln 119 

California    Graphite    Company    Deposit,    San    Francisquito    Canon,    Los    Angeles 

County 126 

Hauling   "Whiting"    (Calcium   Carbonate)    from   White    Boy   Claim   of   Seipp   and 

Merwin,  on  Edge  of  Death  Valley 131 

"Bartlett"  Springs,  at  Bartlett  Springs,  Lake  County 135 

Agua    Caliente    Springs,    Sonoma    County,    Main    Building    from    Local    Trachytic 

Tuff    136 

Brand  and  Stevens'  Pumice,  Imperial  County 137 

Salt  Deposit  of  Pacific  Rock  Salt  Company,  near  Amboy 151 

Maps     193-213 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


September,  192L 
To  His  E.rcdli  ncij,  'i'liE  IIdnorable  William  D.  Stephens, 
Goi'(  riior  of  ihe  Slate  of  California. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honur  to  herewith  transmit  Bulletin  No.  90  of  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  being  the  annual  report  of  the  stati.sti&s  of  the 
mineral  production  of  California. 

The  remarkable  variety,  total  valuation,  and  wide  distribution  of 
many  of  our  minerals  revealed  herein  show  California's  importance, 
both  in  peace  and  in  war,  as  a  producer  of  commercial  minerals  among 
the  states  of  the  Union. 

Resi)ect fully  sul)mitted. 

Fletcher  Hamilton, 
State  IMineralogist. 


LETTER    OF    INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  the  endeavor  of  the  staff  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  in  these 
annual  reports  of  the  mineral  industries  of  California,  to  so  compile 
the  statistics  of  production  that  they  will  be  of  actual  use  to  producers 
and  to  those  interested  in  the  utilization  of  the  mineral  products  of  our 
state,  while  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  individual's  data  confidential. 
In  addition  to  the  mere  figures  of  output,  we  have  included  descriptions 
of  the  uses  and  characteristics  of  many  of  the  materials,  as  well  as  a 
brief  mention  of  their  occurrences. 

The  compilation  of  accurate  and  dependable  figures  is  an  extremely 
difficult  undertaking,  and  the  State  IMineralogist  takes  the  opportunity 
of  here  expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  cooperation  of  the  producers 
in  making  this  work  possible.  A  fuller  appreciation  of  the  value  of 
early  responses  to  the  requests  sent  out  in  January  will  result  in 
earlier  completion  of  the  manuscript.  Statistics  lose  much  of  their 
value  if  their  publication  is  unnecessarily  delayed. 

Some  of  the  data  relative  to  properties  and  uses  of  many  of  the 
minerals  herein  described  are  repeated  from  i)receding  reports,  as  it 
is  intended  that  this  annual  statistical  bulletin  shall  be  somewhat  of 
a  compendium  of  information  on  California's  connnercial  minerals  and 
their  utilization. 

Fletcher  Hamilton, 
State  Mineralogist. 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY,  CALIFORNIA,  1920 


DATA   COMPILED   FROM    DIRECT   RETURNS   FROM    PRO- 
DUCERS IN  ANSWER  TO  INQUIRIES  SENT  OUT  BY 
THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 
FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO, 
CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

]\Iiueral  output  in  California  during  the  year  1920  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  $2-42,099,667  worth  of  crude  materials.  There  were  fifty  dif- 
ferent mineral  substances,  exclusive  of  a  segregation  of  the  various 
stones  grouped  imder  gems;  and  all  of  the  fifty-eight  counties  of  the 
state  contributed  to  the  list. 

As  compared  with  the  1919  output,  the  notable  features  of  1920  are : 
The  continued  increase  in  petroleum  valuation;  the  decreases  in  the 
metals  group;  and  increases  in  the  structural  and  'industrial'  groups. 
The  net  result  was  an  increase  of  $46,269,665  over  the  grand  total  value 
of  the  year  1919,  of  which  increase,  petroleum  accounted  for  more  than 
75  per  cent. 

The  metals  gi'oup  was  the  only  one  as  a  whole  showing  a  net  decrease, 
being  due  mainly  to  gold,  copper,  and  quicksilver.  Notable  increases 
v/ere  registered  by  silver  and  lead. 

An  interesting  feature  of  the  i-eturns  is  the  status  shown  by  the 
structural  materials  group.  The  total  value  for  this  group  jumped 
from  $16,796,784  to  $29,723,405,  due  mainly  to  cement,  'miscellaneous 
stone'  (crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel),  brick  and  tile,  and  magne- 
site,  in  the  order  named.  This  indicates  a  renewal  of  building  and 
construction  activity,  which  has  been  curtailed  during  the  war  period. 

The  'industrial'  group  showed  an  increase  in  total  value  from 
$2,041,981  to  $3,567,760.  The  more  important  items  were  diatoma- 
ceous  earth,  barytes,  litliia  and  talc.  In  the  salines  group,  there  were 
important  increases  made  by  borax  and  soda,  but  Avhicli  were  nearly 
counterbalanced  by  a  decrease  of  almost  a  million  dollars  by  potash. 

The  figures  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  are  made  up  from  reports 
received  direct  from  the  producers  of  the  various  minerals.  Care  is 
exercised  in  avoiding  duplication,  and  any  error  is  likely  to  be  on  the 
side  of  under-  ratlicr  than  over-estimation. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  13 

California  jaelds  commercially  a  greater  number  and  variety  of 
mineral  products  than  any  other  state  in  the  United  States,  and  prob- 
ably more  than  any  other  equal  area  elsewhere  of  the  earth.  Previous 
to  1916,  the  total  annual  value  of  her  output  was  surpassed  l)y  but  four 
other  states,  they  being  the  great  coal  and  iron  producers  of  east  of 
the  Mississippi  River.  In  1916  and  1917,  because  of  their  enormous 
increases  in  copper  output,  Montana  and  Arizona  passed  California  in 
total  value  for  those  years ;  and  Arizona  for  1918.  Of  one  item,  at 
least,  borax,  California  still  remains  the  sole  producer;  and  for  many 
years  was  also  the  sole  domestic  source  of  chromite  and  magnesite. 
We  produce  at  least  75%  of  the  quicksilver  of  the  United  States.  For 
sume  years  we  have  been  leading  all  others  in  gold  and  platinum ;  while 
alternating  in  the  lead  with  Colorado  in  tungsten,  and  with  Oklalioma 
in  petroleum. 

Development  of  our  hydroelectric  resources  in  California  is  nowhere 
more  important  than  in  the  mining  districts.  Some  of  the  leading, 
large-unit  installations  are  in  close  proximity  to  our  important  mineral 
regions.  Electricity  is  destined  to  play  an  increasingly  significant  part 
in  the  economic  development  of  our  commonwealth  and  its  natural 
resources.  The  halftone  herewith  is  from  a  photograph  of  the  most 
recent  large-unit  hydroelectric  plant  to  be  completed  in  California — 
the  Caribou  plant  of  the  Great  Western  Power  Company,  in  Plumas 
County. 

According  to  published  reports,  California  during  1920  was  third 
in  the  United  States  in  development  of  electric  power,  being  exceeded 
by  only  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  California,  also,  ranked  second 
in  the  possession  of  potential  water  power,  her  resources  in  this  item 
being  greater  than  the  entire  group  of  Atlantic  Coast  states  combined. 
Present  installations  total  over  one  million  horsepower. 


14 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Tlie  following  table  shows  the  comparative  yield  of  mineral  substances 
of  California  for  1919  and  1920,  as  compiled  from  the  returns  received 
at  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  San  Francisco,  in  answer  to  inquiries  sent 
to  producers : 


Substance 


Asbestos 

Barytes    1,501  tons 

Bituminous  rock 4,614  tons 

Borax    6j,791  tons 

Brick  and  tile 

Cement    4,615,289  bbls. 

Chromite  4,314  tons 

Clay  (pottery) 135,708  tons 

Coal   2,983  tons 

Copper    22,162,605  lbs 

Dolomite    24,502  tons 

Feldspar 1,272  tons 

Fuller's  earth  385  tons 

Gems    

Gold  

Granite  

Graphite  

Gypsum    19,813  tons 

Infusorial  and  dia- 

tomaceous  earths...  40,200  tons 

Iron  ore 2,300  tons 

Lead  4,139,562  lbs. 

Lime  420,698  bbls 

Limestone  88,291  tons 

Lithia    800  tons 

Magnesite   44,(93  tons 

Magnesium  salts 1,616  tons 

Manganese  ore 11,569  tons 

Marble    25,020  cu.  ft. 

Mineral  paint  1,780  tons 

Mineral  water 2,233,842  gals. 

Natural    gas    j  52,173,503  M.  cu.  ft. 

etroleum  101,182,962  bbls. 

418flnsoz. 
28,118  tons 


Platinum 

Potash    

Pumice   and   volcanic 

ash    

Pyrite    

Quicksilver   

Salt  

Sandstone  

Silica    (sand   and 

quartz)   

Silver  

Soapstone  and  talc... 

Soda  

Stone,   miscellaneous". 
Timgsten  concentrates 

Zinc  

Unapportioned  


Totals  

Net  increase. 


2,388  tons 
147,024  tons 
15,200  flasks 
233,994  tons 

5,400  eu.  ft. 

18,a59  tons 


8,764  tons 
21,294  tons 


214  tons 
1,384,192  lbs. 


Value 


$18,065 

18,537 

1,717,192 

3,087,067 

8,591. 9J0 

97,101 

245,019 

8,203 

4,122,24'j 

67,953 

12,955 

3,810 

5,425 

16,6>5,S5g 

220,743 

1 

50,579 

217,800 
13,796 

219,337 

552,043 

248,145 
14,400 

452,094 
82,457 

451,422 
74,482 
17,055 

340,117 

4,041,217 

142,610,563 

60,611 

2,415,963 

43,657 

540,300 

1,353,381 

893,965 

3,720 

101,600 
1.210,051 
115,091 
721.958 
3,0fl8,i>'44 
219,316 
101,046 
119,500 


Amount 


3,029  tons 

5,450  tons 

127,065  tons 


6,709,10J  bbls. 

1,770  tons 

203,9J7  tons 

2,078  tons 

12,S47,2:>9  lbs. 

42,388  tons 

4,518  tons 

6X)  tons 


20,507  tons 


$195,830,002 


60,764 

5,975 

4,903,738 

483,144 

90,120 

10,046 

83,695 

3,150 

2,892 

20,.5.31 

779 

2,391,791 

58,567,772 

103,377,361 

477 

2.1.298 


tons 

tons 

lbs. 

bbls. 

tons 

tons 

tons 

tons 

tons 

cu.  ft. 

tons 

gals. 

M.  cu.  ft 

bbls. 

fine  oz. 

tons 


1,537  tons 
148,001  tons 

10,278  flasks 
2;3fi,638  tons 

10,500  cu.  ft. 

25,324  tons 


11,327  tons 
32,407  tons 


1,188,009  lbs. 


$20,795 

27,825 

2.794,208 

5,704,393 

14,982,945 

43,031 

440,6S9 

5  450 

2,382,'303 

132,791 

26,189 

6,000 

30,056 

14,311,043 

495,732 

3 

92,535 

1,053,260 

40,889 

E92,300 

557,2.32 

298,197 

153,502 

1,033,491 

107,787 

62,323 

92,899 

8,477 

421,013 

3,898,286 

178,394,937 

68,977 

1,485,463 

25,890 

53J,581 

775,527 

972,618 

2,300 

93,793 

l,&5i9,893 

221,362 

1,164,898 

6,8J3,557 


93,229 
315,340 


Increase+ 

Decrease — 

Value 


$242,093,667 


$2,730+ 

9,288+ 

1,077,014+ 

2,617,326+ 

6,370,955+ 

54,133— 

195.,07O+ 

2,753— 

1,739,943— 

64,838+ 

13,244  + 

2,190+ 

30,631  + 

2,384,912— 

274,959+ 

3 

41,956+ 

838,469+ 

27,093+ 

172,903  + 

5,189+ 

50,052  + 

139,102  + 

581,£97+ 

25,330+ 

389,099— 

18,417+ 

8,578— 

81,526+ 

142,931— 

33,784,3(4  + 

8,363+ 

950,500— 

17,767— 

9,719— 

577,854— 

75,685+ 
1,420— 

4,807— 

619,845+ 

106  271  + 

442,940+ 

3,104,613+ 

219,316— 

4,817— 

4,160— 


$46,269,635+ 


^Unapportioned — includes  asbeston  and  graphite. 

-"Includes   macadam,   ballast,   rubble,   riprap,   paving  blocks,  sand,   gravel,    and   grinding-mill 
pebbles. 

''Unapportioned— includes  asbestos,  graphite  and  columbite  (tantalum  ore). 


STATISTICS    OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


15 


The  following  table  shows  the  eoinparative  value  of  the  mineral 
production  of  the  various  counties  in  the  stnte.  for  the  years  1919  and 
1920: 

County  !  3919 


Alameda 
Alpino  .. 
Amador 
But  to    .- 


Calavoras    

Colusa   

Contra  Costa 

Dol  Norte 

Kl  Dorado  

Fresno   

Glenn  

Kuniljoldt - 

Imperial    

Inyo 


Kern  

Kings    

Lake    

Lassen   

Los  Angeles 

Madera    

Marin    

Mariposa    ... 
Mendocino  .. 

Merced   

Modoc 

Mono  

Monterey   __- 
Napa    


Nevada  

Orange  

Placer    

Plumas    

Kiverside    

Sacramento    

San  Benito 

San  Bernardino  . 

San  Diego  

San  Francisco  -.. 

San  Joaciuin 

San  Luis  Obispo. 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara  __ 

Santa  Clara  

Santa  Cruz  

Shasta    

Sierra  

Siskiyou   

Solano   

Sonoma   

Stanislaus  

Sutter  

Tehama   

Trinity    

Tulare    

Tuolumne    

Ventura  

Yolo - 

Yuba   ..- 


,304,685 
100 

481,537 

,978,558 

7,300 

395,558 

7,240 

166,152 

,644.465 

.59,637 

52,011 

140,443 

692.546 

,625,352 

51,283 

39,375 

l,4r,<> 

606,381 

117,888 

228,974 

262,566 

14,214 

40,683 

8,518 

85,168 

148,504 

275.303 

,064,053 

,&50.693 

337,881 

,1,58,196 

,576,978 

,170.296 

276,476 

,638,68.5 

342.662 

65,541 

435,618 

212,4.30 

241,671 

.594,917 

048.571 

24.5.056 

76.803 

:304,879 

486,042 

672,084 

286.038 

544,725 


•2.771 


9,000 

.571,649 

.331,001 

674,493 

3,017.074 

25,466 

4,261,S45 


11,947,880 
840 
2,010,200  • 
641,562  • 
1,880,050  • 
57,488  . 
2,082,053- 
11,781 
186.432  ■ 
23,819,351- 
134,707  ■ 
1.59,796 
169,882  • 
.3,889,4a)- 
89,121,581- 
29.870  • 
6.3,553• 
12,313  ■ 
26,975,163- 
122,925  • 
a35,745- 
271,031 
26,110 
24.800- 
4.668 
188.2-58  • 
126,449  - 
2:^,141- 
2,9.5.5,006  • 
34,106,1.36  • 
612,813- 
2,082,662  • 
.5,128,208  - 
2,066,154- 
1.483,024  • 
6,541,348  • 
794,229  • 
80,35:3- 
471,102- 
405,604  • 
2t3,103. 
10.538.611- 
1,0.38,692  • 
3,081,138  • 
1,106,538  • 
446,861- 
229.115- 
2.930,614' 
287.245 
385.017' 
54 
26.400- 
562.105  • 
593.296  • 
513.914  • 
5,229,175  • 

9.472 
3,573.649  • 


-/» 


Totals    $195,830,002  I    $242,099,667 


16 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Total  Production. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  total  value  of  mineral  production 
of  California  by  years  since  1887,  in  which  year  compilation  of  such 
data  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  began.  At  the  side  of  these  figuras 
the  writer  has  placed  the  values  of  the  most  important  metal  and  non- 
metal  items — gold  and  petroleum. 

In  the  same  period  copper  has  also  increased,  beginning  with  1897 
following  the  entry  cf  the  Shasta  County  mines.  Cement  increased 
rapidly  from  1902,  while  crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel  parallels  the 
cement  increase.  Quicksilver  has  been  up  and  down.  Mineral  water 
and  salt  have  always  l)een  important  items,  but  the  values  fluctuate. 
Borax  has  increased  materially  since  1896.  Wartime  increases,  1915- 
1918,  were  shown  l)y  chromite,  copper,  lead,  magnesite,  manganese, 
silver,  tungsten  and  zinc,  but  all  declined  in  1919,  with  structural  mate- 
rial, magnesite  and  silver  increasing  in  1920. 


Total    Mineral    Production    of   California   by   Years,   Since   1887. 


Tear 


Total  va:u9  ol 
all  minerals 


Gold,  value 


Petroleum, 
value 


1887   $19,785,868 

1888    19,469,320 

1889   16,681,731 

1890    18,039,666 

1891    18,872,413 

1892    18,300,168 

18t3    18,811,261 

1894    20',203,294 

1805  22,844,663 

1896  24,291,398 

1897  25,142,441 

1898  27,289,079 

1899  29,313,460 

1900  32,622,945 

1901  34,-355,981 

1902  35,069,106 

1903  37,759,040 

1904  43,778,348 

1905  43,069,227 

1906  46,776,085 

1907  55,697,949 

1908  66,363,198 

1909  82,972,209 

1910  88,419,079 

1911  87,497,879 

1912  88,972,385 

1913  98,&44,639 

1914  ..  93,314,773 

1915  96,663,369 

1916   127,901,610 

1917   161,202,962 

1918  199,753,837 

1919    195,830,002 

1920  242,099,667 

Totals  $1,237,809,051 


$13,588,614 
12,750,000 
11,212,913 
12,309,793 
12,728,869 
12,571,900 
12,422,811 
13,923,281  I 
15,334,317  I 
17,181,562  ! 
15,871,401  I 
15.906,478 
15,336,031 
15,863,355 
16,989,044 
16,910,320 
16,471,264 
19,109,600 
19,197,043 
18,732,452 
16,727,928 
18,761,559 
20,237,870 
19,715,440 
19,738,908 
19,713,478 
20,406,958 
20,653,496 
22,442,296 
21,410,741 
20,087,504 
16,529,162 
16,695,955 
14,311,043 


$571,843,386 


$1,357,144 

1,380,666 

368.048 

384.200 

401.264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064,521 

1,000,235 

1,180,793 

1,918,269 

2,376,420 

2,660,793 

4,152,928 

2,961,102 

4,692,189 

7,313,271 

8,317,809 

9,007.820 

9,238,020 

16,783,943 

26,566,181 

32,398,187 

37,689,542 

40,552,088 

41,868,a44 

48,578,014 

47,487.109 

43,503,837 

57,421,334 

86,976,209 

127,459,221 

142,610,563 

178,394,937 


$989,234,426 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


17 


Dividends. 

Among  the  metal  mine  dividend  payers  in  California  the  following 
have  been  reported:* 


Company 


American  S.  &  R.. 
(Includes  also 
properties  in 
other  states  and 
Mexico.) 

Argonaut  

Atolia 


Derro  Gordo. 


Engels  

First     National 

Copper  Co 

New    Idria 

North  Star 

Oroville  Dredging. 

Plymouth    Con 

U.  S.  S.  R.  &  M., 
U.  S.  (also  Mex- 
ico)    


Yukon  Gold  (also 
Alaska  and  Ne- 
vada)   


Metal 


f  Copper 
I  Lead 
^Gold 
I  Silver 
[Zinc 


Gold 

Tungsten 
(Lead         1 

-iZinc  I- 

(Silver        j 
Copper 

Copper 
Quicksilver 
Gold 
Gold 
Gold 

(Lead         "1 

I  Zinc  I 

{ Copper      } 

I  (Silver        I 

Gold         I 


Gold 


351,115 
486,3.30 


3,500,000 


$50  00           175,557  1  $15,315,779 
50  00    —     21,881,288 


Latest  dividends 


Date 


Per 
share 


Mar.  15,  1921 
June    1,  1921 


Mar.  20,  1920 

Dec.    14.  1918 

Jan.  15,  1918 

Oct.    19,  1918 

Feb.  25,  1919 

Jan.     1,  1919 

Dec.    31,  1920 

Sept.  -,  1920 

Mar.  — ,  1920 

Jan.   — .  1921 

Oct.   10,  1920 


9,858,110    June  -,  1918 


$1  00 
1  75 


0  05 
0  50 

0  05 

0  Oil 

0  15 
0  25 
0  3> 
9  1. 
12d. 


0  50 
0  87i 


0  m 


"^Common.    "Preferred. 

♦Mining  and  Scientific  Press,  Vol  123,  p.  243,  Aug.  13,  1921. 

Current  Prices  of  Ores  and  Minerals.' 

"The  following  prices  represent  approximately  what  can  be  obtained  for  the 
products  indicated,  delivered  at  points  on  San  Francisco  Bay.  These,  of  course, 
vary  widely  with  the  grade  and  purity  of  the  ores.  The  present  stagnant  condition 
of  the  market  makes  many  of  the  quotations  purely  nominal;  most  of  the  ores  can 
be  purchased  at  these  prices,  but  it  should  be  understood  that  it  is  not  easy  for  the 
producer  to  market  them  at  this  time.  This  list  is  corrected  monthly  by  Atkins, 
KroU  &  Co. 

Antimony  ore,  approximately  free  of  lead  and  arsenic,  not  less  than  50%  Sb,  p8r%  60<! 

Asbestos  (crysotile)  according  to  length  of  fibre,  per  ton $20  to  $2,500 

Barite,  white  and  free  of  iron  (crude),  per  ton $5  to  $10 

Bismuth  ore,  not  less  than  20%  Bi,  per  Vc  Bi $12 

Feldspar,  crude,  lump,  free  of  iron,  per  ton ' $5  to  $10 

Fluorspar,  85%  calcium  fluoride,  per  ton $15  to  $20 

Fuller's  earth,  ground  to  pass  80-me<h,  per  ton $5  to  $10 

Graphite,  crystalline,  per  pound Si  to  7^ 

Magnesite,  calcined,  per  ton $25  to  $35 

Manganese  ore,  less  than  0.75%  Fe;  less  than  Q7c  SiOi,  per  ton $25  to  $30 

Mica,  according  to  size,  clearness,  and  cleavage,  per  pound $1  to  $8 

Molybdenite,  not  less  than  85%,  free  of  copper,  per  %  M0S2 $8  to  $12 

Ochre,  according  to  strength,  cnide,  per  ton $8  to  $15 

Sulphur,  99.5%  pure,  only  trace  of  .\s  and  Se,  per  ton $15  to  $18 

Tale,  lump,  white,  per  ton $7.50  to  $10 

Tin  ore,  not  less  than  CO^/c  Sn,  per  %  Sn $5 

Tungst;n  ore,  n  )t  kss  than  05%,  WO3  per  %  WO3 ..$2.75  to  $3" 


New  Import  Tariff  Schedule. 

The  Fordney  Tariff  Bill  introduced  iii  the  House,  June  29,  1921, 
contains  the  following  provisions  relating  to  ores  and  minerals,  as  sum- 
marized by  the  ]\Iining  and  Scientific  Press  r 

"Barytes,  crude  $4  per  ton;  ground  $7.50  per  ton;  precipitated  barium  sulphate 
or  blanc  fixe,  1(  per  pound;  lithopone  and  other  combinations  or  mixtures  of  zinc 
sulphate  and  barium  sulphate,  Ihf  per  pound. 


'Mining  and  Scientific  Press,  June  4,  1921,  p.  798. 
'Minintr  and  Scientific  Press,  July  9,  1921,  p.  67. 
2—12865 


18  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"jNIanganese  oio  ami  conconlrates  in  oxct'ss  of  30%  metallic  manganese  1«.'  per 
pound  of  metallic  manganese  content;  ferro-manganese  2i(!  per  pound  of  metallic 
manganese  content. 

"Mo!yl>denum  ore  or  concentrates  75(?  per  pound  on  the  metallic  molybdenum 
contained.  Petro-molylidenum,  all  molyljdenum  compounds  and  alloys,  $1.25  per 
pound  of  molylxlenum  contained  plu.s  17%  ad  valorem. 

"Tungsten  ore  or  concentrates  ifxf  per  pound  on  metallic  tungsten  contained. 
Ferro-tungsten,  tungsten  pow^dered,  all  other  compounds  of  tungsten,  720  per  pound 
on  tungsten  contained  plus  15%  ad  valorem. 

"Bauxite  $1  per  ton;  aluminum  50  per  pound;  in  plates,  sheets,  bars,  etc.  90 
per  iiound. 

"INIagnesium  $1  per  pound;  magnesium  alloys  and  manufactures  $1  per  pound  on 
magnesium  content  plus  20%  ad  valorem. 

"Quicksilver  70  per  pound  (later  amended  to  350  per  pound). 

"Nickel  in  pigs  50  per  pound;  manufactured  30%  ad  valorem. 

"Tin  in  bars  or  pig-,  scrap  or  granulated.  20  per  pound. 

"Lead  ores  and  mattes  1^0  per  pound  on  lead  contained,  vi'ith  a  proviso  for  the 
admis::ion  of  2000  tons  of  lead  contained  in  copper  matte  free  of  duty  each  year;  lead 
bullion,  antimonial  lead,  scrap-lead,  type-metal,  babbit,  solder  oi-  alloys  or  combina- 
tions of  lead,  210  per  pound  of  lead  contained;  lead  in  sheets,  pipe,  shot,  etc.,  2y0  per 
pound;  lead  acetate,  white,  3K  per  pound;  brown,  gray,  or  yellow,  2',0  per  pound; 
nitrate  2i0  per  iiound:  arsenate  and  resinate,  20%  ad  valorem;  litharge,  orange 
mineral,  red  and  white  lead  2J0  per  pound;  pigments  containing  lead  30%  ad  valorem. 

"Zinc-bearing  ore,  including  calamine  under  10%  zinc,  free;  over  10  and  less  than 
20%  zinc,  A0  per  pound  of  zinc  contained;  over  20  and  less  than  25%  zinc,  10  per 
pound  of  zinc  contained;  over  25%  zinc,  1J0  per  pound  on  zinc  contained  for  the  next 
two  years.  Zinc  in  blocks,  pigs,  slabs,  old  and  worn  out  zinc,  20  per  pound;  in  sheets, 
plate's,  strips,  fabricated  or  zinc  dust,  2^0  per  pound.  Thereafter  duties  shall  be  as 
follows:  Over  10  and  less  than  20%  zinc.  i0  per  pound  of  zinc  contained;  over  20 
and  le-s  than  25%  zinc,  J0  per  pound  on  zinc  contained;  over  25%,  zinc,  10  per  pound 
on  zinc  contained.  Zinc  in  blocks  or  pigs  and  zinc  dust,  100  per  pound;  in  sheets, 
110;  in  sheets  plated,  1§0;  old  and  worn  out  zinc,  10. 

"Graphite  10%  ad  valorem. 

"Fluorspar  S5  per  ton  for  one  year;   thereafter,   $4  per  ton. 

"Kaolin  $2.50  per  ton. 

"Antimony  IJp  per  pound. 

"Mica  60  per  pound  plus  17',f'  ad  valorem,  unmanufactured  120  per  pound  and  17%'. 
Ground  mica,  00  per  pound  and  20%  ad  valorem. 

"Potash,  for  two  years  2*0  per  pound  on  potassium  oxide  contained;  one  year 
thereafter  20  per  pound;  one  year  thereafter  1^0  per  pound;  one  year  thereafter  10 
per   pound;    after  five  years,    free. 

"Petroleum,  crude,  350  per  barrel  of  42  gallons;  fuel  oil  250  per  barrel.  (Eliminated 
by  vote  of  the  House.) 

"Magnesite,  crude  or  ground,  i0  per  pound;  dead-burned  and  grained  30  per  pound. 

The  bill  has  passed  the  House  with  the  figures  above  shown,  with  the 
exception  of  the  two  changt^s  indicated  in  parentheses  following  quick- 
silver and  petroleum. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


19 


CHAPTER  TWO. 

FUELS. 

Among  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  California  are  its 
fuels.  This  subdivision  includes  coal,  natural  gas  and  petroleum,  the 
combined  values  of  which  make  up  over  50%  of  the  state's  entire 
mineral  output. 

There  are  deposits  of  peat  known  in  several  localities  in  California, 
small  amounts  of  which  are  used  as  a  fertilizer:  but  none  has  as  yet 
been  utilized  for  fuel. 

Comparison  of  values  during  1919  and  1920  is  shown  in  the  following 
table : 


1919 

1920 

Increase -j- 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

j       Value 

I>ec^ease— 
Value 

Coal    

2.9S3  tons 
r>2,l73,n03  M.  cu.  ft. 
101,182,Wi2  barrels 

$8,203 

4,041,217 

142,610,561 

$146,C59,i)S;l 

2,07S  tons 
58,567,772  M.  cu.  it. 
103,377,.361  barrels 

$5,450 

3,898,286 

178,394,937 

$2,753— 

Natural    gas ^.. 

Petroleum    .. 

1 12,931— 
35,784,374  + 

Total  value 

$182,298,073 

Net  increase 

$35,638,690+ 

1 

COAL. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletins  285,  316,  431,  471,  581 ;  An.  Rep.  22, 
Pt.  III. 

Coal  has  been  produced  in  California  since  as  early  as  1860,  and  until 
the  development  of  crude  oil  was  an  important  factor  in  the  mineral 
industry^  of  the  state.  As  most  of  it  is  lignite,  the  quality  is  generally 
poor  as  compared  with  other  coals  on  the  Pacific  Coast  markets.  How- 
ever, in  competition  wntli  fuel  oil,  coal  of  all  grades  has  had  to  take 
second  place.  Within  recent  months,  however,  owing  to  the  high 
prices  of  petroleum  products,  there  have  been  some  inquiries  for  coal 
deposits  in  California.  Besides  the  counties  noted  below  as  showing 
a  commercial  production,  workable  bodies  of  coal  are  also  known  in 
several  others,  including  Alameda,  Contra  Costa,  Mendocino,  Shasta, 
and  Siskiyou.  Some  coal  has  also  been  produced,  in  the  past,  in  Fresno 
and  Orange  counties. 

During  1920  production  was  reported  from  Amador,  Monterey  and 
Riverside  counties  totaling  2078  tons,  worth  $5,450.  That  from  the 
lone  mine  in  Amador  County  and  the  Alberbill  mine  in  Riverside 
County  was  utilized  for  .steaming  and  domestic  purposes,  locally.     That 


20 


MINERAT/ INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


produced  at  the  Stone  Caiion  property,  Monterey  County,  was  con- 
sumed at  the  mine  in  keeping  the  mine  open  and  the  pumps  operating, 
none  being  shipped  out  during  1919  nor  1920.  This  property  has 
recently  (June,  1921)  been  sold  to  Eastern  parties,  who  are  preparing 
to  reopen  the  mine  and  resume  shipments. 

Tests  have  been  made  by  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey^  on  some  of  the 
lone  lignite  (because  of  its  resemblance  to  some  oil  shales),  to  determine 
if  it  will  yield  oil  on  destructive  distillation.  Up  to  62  gallons  of  oil 
per  ton  was  obtained  and  also  18  pounds  of  ammonium  sulphate  as  a 
by-product.  The  latter  is  valuable  as  a  fertilizer.  Analyses  showed : 
16%  fixed  carbon,  31%  volatile  matter,  46%  moisture,  7%  ash;  and 
the  heating  value  is  6,060  British  thermal  units. 

The  very  considerable  output  of  coal  in  the  years  previous  to  1883 
was  almost  entirely  from  the  Mount  Diablo  district.  Contra  Costa 
County.  Later,  the  Tesla  mine  in  Corral  Hollow,  Alameda  County,  was 
an  important  producer  for  a  few  years.  The  following  tabulation  gives 
the  annual  tonnages  and  values,  according  to  available  records : 


Coal  Output  and   Value  by  Years. 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1861  

6,620 

23,400 

43,200 

50,700 

60,530 

84,020 

124,690 

143,676 

157,234 

141,890 

152,493 

190,859 

186,611 

215,352 

166,638 

128,049 

107,789 

134,237 

147,879 

236,950 

140,000 

112,592 

76,162 

77,485 

71,615 

100.000 

50,000 

95,000 

121,280 

110,711 

93,301 

$38,065 

1862  .  

134,550 

1863  

248,400 

1864  

291,525 

1865 

348,048 

1866  

483,115 

1867  

-  716,968 

1868  

826,137 

1869  

1870  

1871  

1872  

1873  

1874  

904,096 

815,868 

876,835 

1,097,439 

1,073,013 

1,238,274 

1875  

958,169 

1876    .  _  

.  736,282 

1877   -,  

619,787 

1878  

771,863 

1879  

850,304 

1880  

1,362,463 

1881  

805,000 

1882  

1883  

1884  

1885  

1886  

1887  

1888  

647,404 
380,810 
309,950 
286,460 
300,000 
■  150,000 
380,000 

1889  

1890  

1891  

288,232 
283,019 
204,902 

Tear 


896 


899 


Tons 


892    8.5,178 

893   72,603 

59,887 
79,858 
70,649 
87.449 

143,045 
160,941 

900   i     176,956 

901   i     150,724 


902 
903 
904 
905 
906 
907 
908 
909 
910 
911 
912 
913 
914 
915 
916 
917 
918 
919 
920 


88.460 

93,026 

79,062 

46,500 

24,850 

23.734 

18,496 

49,389 

11.033 

11,047 

14.484 

25.198 

11,859 

10,299 

4.037 

3,527 

6,343 

2,983 

2,078 


Value 


1209.711 

167,555 

139,862 

193,790 

161.335 

196,255 

337,475 

420.109 

535,531 

401.772 

248.622 

265.383 

376,494 

144,500 

61,600 

55,849 

55,503 

216,913 

23,484 

18,297 

39,092 

85,809 

28,806 

26,662 

7.030 

7.691 

16.149 

8.203 

5.450 


Totals  5,164,658    $22,881,910 


The  tonnages  in  the  above  table  for  the  years  1861-1886  (inel.)  are  taken  from  the  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey,  "Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S..  1910,"  p.  107.  The  values  assigned  lor  the 
years  previous  to  18S3  are  those  given  by  W.  A.  Goodyear  (Mineral  Res.,  1885,  pp.  93-9i).  being  an 
average  of  $5.75  per  ton.  From  1887  to  date  the  figures  are  thos€  of  the  California  State  Mining 
Bureau. 


lU.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Press  Bulletin  No.  402,  March,  1919. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUxVL   PRODUCTION.  21 

NATURAL  GAS. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
Bulletins  3,  16,  19,  69,  73.  Monthly  Summary,  Oil  &  Gas 
Supervisor,  Dec.  1919. 

Statistics  on  the  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  are  in  a  con- 
siderable degree  difficult  to  arrive  at,  as  much  of  it  that  is  utilized 
directly  at  the  wells  for  heating,  lighting,  and  driving  gas  engines  is 
not  measured.  Hence,  it  is  necessary  to  approximate  the  output  of 
many  of  the  operators  in  the  oil  fields. 

The  figures  here  given  are  certainly  not  over  estimated,  particularly 
in  the  six  oil-producing  counties.  It  must  be  remembered  that  several 
of  our  important  oil  fields  are  removed  many  miles  from  the  site  of 
any  other  industry,  and  that  the  gathering  of  small  amounts  of  gas 
and  transporting  it  for  any  considerable  distance  may  not  always  be 
profitable.  However,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  fact  that  greater  saving  can 
frequently  be  made  with  profit.  Gas  traps  of  various  size  and  design 
are  in  use.  Some  large  operators  are  making  commendable  efforts  to 
conserve  the  gas  which  accompanies  oil  and  is  richer  than  the  so-called 
'dry  gas'  occurring  in  strata  which  do  not  produce  oil.  Wherever  feasi- 
ble, casing-head  gas  is  used  in  driving  gas  engines  for  pumping  and 
drilling,  and  in  firing  the  boilers  of  steam-driven  plants. 

The  most  notable,  new,  gas  development  in  California  in  recent  years 
has  been  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company  in  the  Elk  Hills  field  in  Kern 
County,  northeast  of  the  ^Midway  district.  Construction  work  has 
been  started  this  spring  (1921)  by  the  San  Joaquin  Liglit  and  Power 
Company  on  a  large  power  unit  at  Buttonwillow,  for  the  utilization  of 
the  Elk  Hills  natural  gas  to  produce  electric  power.  Heavy  gas 
pressures  have  also  been  encountered  by  the  American  Oil  Fields  Com- 
pany in  prospect  wells  (June,  1921)  in  the  Buttonwillow  district  which 
is  northeast  of  Elk  Hills.  Among  the  very  recent  activities,  the  Pacific 
Gas  and  Electric  Company  is  inaugurating  a  program  of  prospecting 
for  natural  gas  in  the  hope  of  developing  a  commercial  supply  in  the 
Montezuma  Hills  in  Solano  Counts'.  A  small  amount  of  gas  has  been 
obtained  in  the  past  from  tliis  district  which  is  within  piping  distance 
of  San  Francisco. 

Several  counties  produce  gas  which  is  not  accompanied  by  oil. 
particularly  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin,  where  it  is  mixed  with 
manufactured  gas  for  domestic  service.  The  Tulare  Lake  district  in 
Kings  and  Tulare  counties  also  dees  not  yield  oil. 

There  is  rather  a  wide  variation  in  prices  quoted  for  natural  gas 
because  .such  a  large  proportion  is  used  directly  in  the  field  for  driving 
gas  engines  and  firing  boilers,  and  is  therefore  not  measured  nor  sold. 


22 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Such  companies  as  have  attempted  to  place  a  valuation  on  the  gas  that 
was  thus  used  in  1920  gave  from  3«^-15^  per  1000  cubic  feet.  From  the 
totals  shown  in  the  tabulation  following  herein,  the  average  value  for 
1920  works  out  at  approximately  6.7^.  Approximately  7000  cubic  feet 
of  gas  is  equal  to  one  barrel  of  oil  in  heating  value,  and  is  so  accounted 
for  by  many  operators.  In  driving  gas  engines,  about  4000  cu.  ft.  per 
24  hr.  are  consumed  by  a  25  h.p.  engine,  and  63,700  cu.  ft.  per  day  for 
heating  a  70  h.p.  steam  boiler,  which  figures  have  been  used  in  com- 
piling this  report. 

NATURAL  GAS,  1920. 


County 


M.  cubic  feet 


Value 


Fresno 
Kern    _ 


Kings    

Los  Angeles  

Orange  

San  Joaquin   

Santa  Barbara 

Tulare  

Ventura    

Butte,  Humboldt,  Lake,  Mendocino,  Sacramento, 
Solano,  Sutter  and  Yuba* 


Totals. 


.3,721.313 

$201,865 

a4,912,865 

1,810,147 

2,765 

1,2.50 

6.225,&35 

.556,4^5 

10,520,48;^ 

862,446 

200,433 

74.9.57 

1.359,66.5 

128,126 

400 

195 

1,521,448 

214,280 

102,.565 

48,555 

58,567,772 

$3,898,286 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  an  individual  producer  in  each. 


Natural  Gas  Production   in   California,  Since  1888. 

The  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  by  years  since  1888  is 
given  in  the  following  table.  The  first  economic  use  of  natural  gas  in 
California  was  from  the  famous  Court  House  well  at  Stockton,  bored 
in  1854-1858.  Beginning  about  1883  and  for  several  succeeding  years, 
a  number  of  gas  wells  were  brought  in  around  Stockton.  Natural  gas 
was  known  in  a  number  of  other  localities,  and  occasionally  utilized  in 
a  small  way,  notably  at  Kelseyville  in  Lake  County,  and  in  Huml)oldt 
County  near  Petrolia  and  Eureka,  but  there  are  no  available  authentic 
records  of  amounts  or  values  previous  to  tlie  year  1888.  The  most 
important  developments  in  the  commercial  production  of  natural  gas 
have  been  coincident  Avith  developments  in  the  oil  fields,  by  utilizing 
the  casing-head  gas  as  well  as  that  from  dry-gas  wells. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


23 


Yrar                 M.  culnc  fvet 

Value 

Year 

M.  culiic  f"ot 

Value 

1888             -    _-  '           a  12,0110 

$10,(K1(I 
12,<i8() 

;i;!,0(Ki 
;^-o,(:o:i 

55,000 

68,500 
79  072 

•  ii2,ooa 

111,4.57 
62,6.57 
74,421 
95,000 
34,.578 
»2mi 
99,443 
75,237 
f)l,()35 

102,479 

V.W,    

168,175 

169.991 

8-12,88.3 

1,118,-167 

H!',579,9;!3 

a5,0€0,COO 

51109,489 

1889             -                     al4,500 

1907 

114,7.59 

1890              -      -               a  41,2.50 

1<;08 

n)i!9 .. 

474,584 

1891                                     a. 39,0!);} 

616,932 

1892                                   a  75  000 

1910 

1,676:367 

1893                                     a  84,000 

1911 

491,8.59 

18W a, 1)85,080 

1895 a,bllO,8CO 

1896 a,bl31,100 

1897 a71,3O0 

1898 alll,165 

18'^) 11,5,110 

1900 ,              40,506 

1901 1            1201,800 

1902                                    120,968 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1!?16 

1917 

1918 

1919 

uro 

al2,600,000 
14,210,836 
16,.529,%3 
21,tj92,892 
28,1.34,365 
44,343,020 
46,373,ft>2 
52,173,503 
58,.567,772 

940,076 
1,053,292 
1,049,470 
l,706,4F:O 
2,871,751 
2,964,922 
3,289,.524 
4,041,217 
3,898,286 

1903 i            120,iai 

1C04 '            144,437 

1905 ;            148,315 

Totals 

314,420,407 

$26,537,604 

a — Quantity,  in  pnrt,  estimated,  where  values  only  were  reported. 
b — Includes  natin-.-il  COj  from  a  mine  in  Santa  Clara  County. 

Gasoline  from    Natural   Gas. 

More  or  less  gas  usually  accompanies  the  petroleum  in  the  oil  fields. 
More  than  50  plants  are  in  operation  manufacturing  gasoline  by  com- 
pression or  absorption  from  this  'casing-head  gas.'  After  the  gasoline 
is  extracted,  the  remaining  'dry  gas'  is  taken  into  the  pipe  lines,  by 
Avhicli  it  is  distributed  to  consumers,  both  domestic  and  commercial. 

In  the  Midway  field,  some  of  the  casing-head  gasoline  is  obtained  as 
an  incidental  product  to  the  compressing  of  the  natural  gas  preliminary 
to  transmission  tlirough  the  gas  pipe  lines.  Some  concerns  market 
casing-head  gasoline  separately,  while  others  turn  it  into  the  oil  pipe 
lines,  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  w'ith  the  crude  oil  for 
transportation  to  the  refinery,  where  it  is  later  regained.  A  total  of 
54,817,467  gallons  of  casing-head  gasoline  from  all  fields  was  reported 
by  39  companies,  as  made  during  1920  and  utilized  directly  as  such. 
This  compares  with  38,034,256  gallons  by  29  companies  in  1919.  It 
was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 

County  Gallons  gasoline 

Fresno    317,503 

Kern  31,799,204 

Los  Angeles  1,689,026 

Orange   10,63,3,,303 

Santa  Barbara  9,.324,872 

Ventura  1,103,554 

Total 5^4,817,467 

The  usual  recoveries  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  vary  from  i  gal. 
to  3  gal.  per  1000  cu.  ft.  of  gas  handled,  the  average  being  about  1  gal. 
per  1000  cu.  ft. 


24 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  25 

The  largest  natural  gas  field  of  commercial  importance  thus  far 
developed  in  California  is  in  the  Midway  district,  Kern  County,  fol- 
lowed by  Orange,  Los  Angeles,  Fresno,  Santa  Barbara  and  Ventura 
counties.  The  Midway  Gas  Company  operates  a  12-inch  pipe  line  from 
the  Midway  field,  a  distance  of  107  miles,  to  Los  Angeles,  where  it 
supplies  gas  to  local  distributing  companies.  The  Valley  Natural  Gas 
Company  supplies  gas  to  consumers  in  the  Midway  field  and  to  local 
distributing  companies  at  Fellows,  Taft,  Maricopa,  Bakersfield,  and 
the  Kern  River  fields.  The  Santa  Maria  Gas  and  Power  Company 
distributes  gas  around  Santa  jNIaria,  from  wells  in  the  neighboring  oil 
fields, 

PETROLEUM, 

Bibliography:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII, 
Bulletins  3,  11,  16,  19,  31.  32,  63,  69,  73,  82,  84,  89  (in  press). 

Chief  of  the  fuels  of  California  is  petroleum.  A  complete  descrip- 
tion of  the  industry  is  to  be  found  in  Bulletin  09,  issued  in  1915  by  the 
State  Mining  Bureau;  supplemented  by  Bulletins  73,  82  and. 84,  annual 
reports  of  the  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  1915-1918,  and  by  the  'Summary 
of  Operations,'  issued  monthly  since  April,  1919.  The  state  law 
providing  for  the  regulation  of  drilling  and  maintenance  of  oil  and 
gas  wells  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  has  been  in  effect  since  1915. 
The  chief  aim  is  to  protect  the  oil  deposits  from  damage  by  water,  and 
to  aid  producers  in  their  work.  A  staff  of  technically  trained  men 
maintain  offices  in  the  various  fields. 

The  oil  production  for  California  for  1920,  as  shown  by  the  sworn 
statements  made  to  the  State  ^Mineralogist  for  the  Department  of 
Petroleum  and  Gas,  by  the  producers  from  9.642  wells  (except  part  of 
the  Los  Angeles  City  field)  amounted  to  103,184,734  barrels  net.  'Net' 
means  that  a  deduction  of  approximately  2%  has  been  made  for  Avater. 
The  oil  consumed  for  fuel  at  the  wells  is  also  included.  This  shows  an 
increase  of  2.111.217  barrels  from  the  similar  net  figures  of  1919. 

To  the  above  amount,  we  have  here  added  192,627  barrels,  being  the 
output  of  various  small  operators  in  the  Los  Angeles  City  field,  not 
included  in  the  reports  to  the  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  making  a  total 
for  the  year  1920  of  103,377,361  barrels,  valued  at  $178,394,937.  Com- 
pared with  1919,  this  is  an  increase  of  2,194,399  barrels  in  quantity, 
and  of  $35,784,374  in  value.  This  great  advance  in  value  is  due  to  the 
continued  increase  in  the  average  price  per  barrel  for  all  fields  and 
grades  which  began  in  1916,  as  will  l)e  seen  in  Table  B,  post.  The  total 
or  average  figures  on  price  ])or  barrd  at  the  well  are  difficult  to 
obtain,  as  it  must  be  remembered  that  a  large  portion  of  the  crude  oil 


26  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

does  not  enter  the  open  market,  but  is  consumed  or  refined  directly  by 
the  producers.  The  prices  given  are  for  oil  which  is  actually  sold,  and 
are  known  to  be  accurate. 

Features  of  1920. 

The  outstanding  feature  of  California  oil  production  is  its  fairly 
constant  rate  for  several  years  past.  Such  a  condition  may  be  expected 
to  continue  for  several  years  and  any  shortage  of  oil  or  its  products  will 
be  due  to  an  increased  consumption.  Kern,  Orange  and  Ventura  were 
the  only  counties  showing  marked  increase  in  production  for  1920  over 
1919.  The  Kern  County  yield  increased  by  2,926,403  barrels,  or  over 
6%.  This  was  due  mainly  to  the  new  Elk  Hills  field,  and  to  increased 
drilling  in  the  Midway  district.  Orange  County  increased  1,004,019 
barrels,  or  nearly  7%,  due  to  the  new  Huntington  Beach  field,  but 
which,  however,  did  not  quite  regain  the  level  of  that  county's  1918 
output.  Ventura  County  increased  304,508  barrels,  or  18%.  Los 
Angeles  County  decreased  nearly  1,000,000  barrels,  Fresno  700,000 
barrels,  and  Santa  Barbara  over  200,000  barrels. 

As  interesting  evidence  of  what  can  be  accomplished  under  pressure 
by  a  large  organization  with  resources  of  men  and  materials  at  its 
command,  the  following  experience  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company  in 
the  Elk  Hills  is  quoted  :^ 

"When  Tupman  No.  1  came  in  on  February  12,  there  was  nothing  in  this  barren 
area  except  tlie  one  rig — no  storage  facilities  nor  pipe-lines.  The  well  began  to  flow 
4500  barrels  dailj-,  the  oil  flowing  into  temporary  sumps  speedily  built  by  a  force  of 
150  men  which  was  gathered.  Two  500-barrel  tanks  were  brought  in  from  Taft.  nine- 
teen miles  away  by  road.  The  pipe-line  from  Taft  to  Bakersfleld  fortunately  was 
only  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  well.  W^ithin  forty-eight  hours  after  the  well  had 
come  in,  the  two  storage-tanks  had  been  set  up,  two  and  a  half  miles  of  pipe-line  laid 
and  pumps  installed,  so  that  the  oil  was  moving  from  the  well  to  the  refinery  within 
forty-eight  hours.  Tupman  No.  1  having  demonstrated  the  presence  of  oil.  work, 
aside  from  the  drilling  of  oil-wells,  was  begun,  to  make  Tjossible  the  intensive  develop- 
ment of  the  field.  The  construction  work  dealt  with  roads,  compressor  plants,  machine 
shops,  an  electric-light  plant,  a  telephone  system  leading  to  the  near-by  lines  between 
Taft  and  Bakersfleld.  A  gas  main  to  a  line  leading  from  tlie  Midway  field  to  Bakers- 
fleld was  also  laid.  A  small  town  has  sprung  up  on  the  Tupman  property,  consisting 
of  the  lisual  oil-camp  buildings.  Three  hundred  men  are  now  at  work  on  the  property, 
and  in  the  cook  house  more  than  nine  hundred  meals  are  served  every  day.  Plans  are 
being  made  for  the  building  of  a  recreation  hall.  There  are  seventy-five  horses  and 
mules  and  five  tractors  on  the  property.  Fifteen  miles  of  roads  have  been  graded 
and  oiled." 

The  Elk  Hills  field  is  still  the  center  of  important  development 
operations.  There  were  at  least  ten  companies  drilling  there  or  pre- 
paring to  do  so,  by  March,  1921.  Wells  that  flow  from  2000  to  5000 
bbl.  per  day,  each,  are  a  powerful  stimulant  to  the  rapid  development 
of  lands  adjoining  such  wells.  Development,  which  usually  spreads 
rapidly  in  all  directions  from  the  discovery  well,  is  partly  restrained 
at  the  east  end  of  Elk  Hills  because  the  structure  from  which  wells  are 
producing  lies  partly  within  Naval  Petroleum  Keserve  No.  1.     In  April, 


^standard   Oil   Bulletin,   Dec.    1920,   P.    3. 


27 

i  from  25 
M.  That 
nga,  Lost 
lat  month 
1  from  20 
usiness  of 

e  demand 
he  hydro- 
continued 
xlucts  for 
-continent 
of  petro- 
it-down  of 
ornia  fuel 

joined  tlie 
imong  off- 
eases  the 
oil  stocks, 
ns  the  life 
1  and  Gas 
should  be 
;  doing  so : 


Huntington 

spite  of  the 
drilled  into 

field  in  the 
uncertainties 

complicated 
a  number  of 

the  costs  of 
se  of  inade- 
5  and  the  oil 
s  are  having 
1  in  order  to 

are  directed 
:  indefinitely 
existed    long 

pool  should 
iment. 

1.  in  order  to 
which  it  can 
illy  operated 
e  by  drilling 

would  be  so 

5  town  lots, 
res  a  normal 
ring  the  cost 
ble  that  five 
the  investor, 
?,  exorbitant 
ary   costs   of 

over   $65,000 

ff  water  and 

The  output 


12SC5     26-27 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  27 

1921,  a  total  of  50,000  bbl.  of  oil  per  day  was  being  produced  from  25 
wells,  mostly  in  Sees.  35  and  36,  T.  30  S.,  R.  24  E.,  M.  D.  M.  That 
almost  equaled  the  production  of  the  1900  wells  in  the  Coalinga,  Lost 
Hills,  and  Belridge  fields  combined.  The  Elk  Hills  wells  in  that  month 
were  averaging  2400  bbl.  per  day  each.  A  similar  production  from  20 
additional  wells  would  exert  a  critical  influence  on  the  oil  business  of 
the  state. 

Three  factors  of  the  moment,  which  may  cause  a  less  acute  demand 
for  California  petroleum  than  that  of  1920,  are :  the  relief  of  the  hydro- 
electric power  situation  by  abundant  snowfall  last  winter  and  continued 
later  than  usual,  with  a  concurrent  release  of  petroleum  products  for 
substitute  power ;  the  big  drop  in  the  price  of  eastern  and  mid-continent 
crudes,  leaving  a  price  balance  favorable  to  the  importation  of  petro- 
leum products  from  other  states;  and  an  almost  complete  shut-down  of 
western  copper  furnaces,  which  use  large  quantities  of  California  fuel 
oil. 

At  Huntington  Beach,  the  Orange  County  field,  which  joined  the 
producing  list  in  1920,  town-lot  drilling  has  forced  a  race,  among  off- 
setting wells,  to  be  first  into  the  producing  sand.  In  some  cases  the 
speed  of  drilling  is  adjusted  to  the  rapidity  of  the  sale  of  oil  stocks. 
The  feverish  haste  of  stock-selling  concerns  to  get  oil  threatens  the  life 
and  security  of  the  Huntington  Beach  field.  The  State  Oil  and  Gas 
Supervisor^  has  issued  the  following  statement  which  should  be 
thoughtfully  studied  by  all  who  have  invested,  or  contemplate  doing  so : 

"During  the  week  eight  new  wells  were  reported  ready  to  drill  in  the  Huntington 
Beach  oil  field.  There  are  65  or  more  wells  in  progress  of  drilling.  In  spite  of  the 
great  drilling  activity  during  the  eleven  months  since  the  first  well  was  drilled  into 
production,  only  18  wells  are  producing.  There  is  no  partly  developed  field  in  the 
state  where  the  drilling  of  successful  producers  is  attended  with  greater  uncertainties 
as  to  relative  positions  of  water  and  oil  sands.  The  situation  is  further  complicated 
by  the  growing  congestion  of  drill  holes  on  town  lot  holdings.  There  are  a  number  of 
these  holes  which  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  yield  a  profit  over  the  costs  of 
development  even  if  properly  drilled.  To  the  investment  hazard,  because  of  inade- 
quate acreage  per  well,  must  be  added  the  inevitable  damage  to  oil  wells  and  the  oil 
field  itself  which  comes  from  congested  drilling.  Experienced  oil  operators  are  having 
great  difficulty  in  properly  excluding  unexpected  water  sands  in  this  field  in  order  to 
get  producing  wells.  The  managers  of  concerns  wliose  principal  energies  are  directed 
toward  the  realization  of  quick  returns  from  tlie  sale  of  stock  cannot  indefinitely 
circumvent  these  conditions  of  fact.  The  Huntington  Beacli  oil  pool  existed  long 
before  town  lots  were  laid  out,  and  there  is  no  worthy  reason  why  this  pool  should 
be  made  the  theatre  of  stock  speculation  instead  of  normal  oil  field  development. 

"Experience  of  normal  development  in  California  shows  that  an  oil  well,  in  order  to 
be  a  going  concern,  should  have  an  allotment  of  at  least  five  acres  from  which  it  can 
draw  oil  witli  a  minimum  amount  of  interference.  Oil  wells  are  normally  operated 
for  profit,  and  it  is  fair  to  assume  tliat.  if  greater  profit  could  be  made  by  drilling 
wells  closer  together  than  is  now  the  practice  in  developed  fields,  they  would  be  so 
drilled. 

"In  Huntington  Beach  oil  field  it  requires  anywhere  from  10  to  75  town  lots, 
dependent  upon  their  size,  to  make  the  equivalent  of  the  minimum  five  acres  a  normal 
oil  Well  needs.  Many  holdings  fall  short  of  this  minimum  area.  Considering  the  cost 
of  drilling,  liigh  operating  costs,  and  tlie  deptlis  of  wells,  it  is  probable  that  five 
acres  is  not  sufficient  for  economic  operation.  In  order  to  yield  a  profit  to  the  investor, 
these  small  tracts  must  first  return  the  costs  of  financing,  advertising,  exorbitant 
salaries,  and  commissions  on  sales  of  stocks,  in  addition  to  tlie  ordinary  costs  of 
development  and  production. 

"The  average  cot  of  drilling  to  production  at  Huntington  Beach  is  over  $65,000 
per  well.  Depending  upon  depth  to  oil,  difficulties  incident  to  shutting  off  water  and 
sand  troubles,  drilling  costs  alone  vary  from  $40,000  to  $90,000  per  well.     The  output 


'Collom,  R.  E.,  Weekly  pre.ss  bulletin,  No.  296,  June  25.  1921. 


26 

does  not  c 
the  prodn 
are  knowi 

Features  of 

The  oil 
constant  r 
to  eontinu 
be  due  to 
the  only  e 
1919.  Th 
6%.  Thi.' 
drilling  ii 
barrels,  oi 
Avhich,  ho 
output.  "" 
Angeles  ( 
barrels,  ai 

As  intei 
by  a  larg 
command, 
the  Elk  H 

"When  Ti 
area  except 
4500  barrels 
150  men  whi 
teen   miles   a 
only  two  anc 
come  in,  tlie 
and  pumps  i 
forty-eight    1 
aside  from  t 
ment  of  the 
shops,  an  eh 
Taft  and  Bi 
field  was  a  Is 
of  the  "usual 
and  in  tlie  et 
being  made 
mules  and   f 
and  oiled." 

The  El] 
operations 
paring  to 
bbl.  per  d; 
of  lands  i. 
rapidl}^  in 
at  the  east 
producing 

'Standard 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  27 

1921,  a  total  of  50,000  bbl.  of  oil  per  day  was  being  produced  from  25 
wells,  mostly  in  Sees.  35  and  36,  T.  30  S.,  R.  24  E.,  M.  D.  M.  That 
almost  equaled  the  production  of  the  1900  wells  in  the  Coalinga,  Lost 
Hills,  and  Belridge  fields  combined.  The  Elk  Hills  wells  in  that  month 
were  averaging  2400  bbl.  per  day  each.  A  similar  production  from  20 
additional  wells  would  exert  a  critical  influence  on  the  oil  business  of 
the  state. 

Three  factors  of  the  moment,  which  may  cause  a  less  acute  demand 
for  California  petroleum  than  that  of  1920,  are :  the  relief  of  the  hydro- 
electric power  situation  by  abundant  snowfall  last  winter  and  continued 
later  than  usual,  with  a  concurrent  release  of  petroleum  products  for 
substitute  power ;  the  big  drop  in  the  price  of  eastern  and  mid-continent 
crudes,  leaving  a  price  balance  favoral)Ie  to  the  importation  of  petro- 
leum i^roducts  from  other  states ;  and  an  almost  complete  shut-dow^n  of 
western  copper  furnaces,  which  use  large  quantities  of  California  fuel 
oil. 

At  Huntington  Beach,  the  Orajige  County  field,  which  joined  the 
producing  list  in  1920,  town-lot  drilling  has  forced  a  race,  among  off- 
setting wells,  to  be  first  into  the  producing  sand.  In  some  cases  the 
speed  of  drilling  is  adjusted  to  the  rapidity  of  the  sale  of  oil  stocks. 
The  feverish  haste  of  stock-selling  concerns  to  get  oil  threatens  the  life 
and  security  of  the  Huntington  Beach  field.  The  State  Oil  and  Gas 
Supervisor^  has  issued  the  following  statement  which  should  be 
thoughtfully  studied  by  all  who  have  invested,  or  contemplate  doing  so : 

"During  tlie  week  eight  new  wells  were  reported  ready  to  drill  in  tlie  Huntington 
Beach  oil  field.  There  arc  65  or  more  wells  in  progress  of  d)illing.  In  spite  of  the 
great  drilling  activity  during  the  eleven  months  since  the  first  well  was  drilled  into 
production,  only  IS  wells  arc  producing.  There  is  no  partly  developed  field  in  the 
state  where  the  drilling  of  successful  producers  is  attended  with  greater  uncertainties 
as  to  relative  positions  of  water  and  oil  sands.  Tlie  situation  is  further  complicated 
by  the  growing  congestion  of  drill  holes  on  town  lot  holdings.  There  are  a  number  of 
these  holes  which  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  j-ield  a  profit  over  the  costs  of 
development  even  if  properly  drilled.  To  the  investment  hazard,  because  of  inade- 
quate acreage  per  well,  must  be  added  tlie  inevital)le  damage  to  oil  wells  and  the  oil 
field  itself  which  comes  from  congested  drilling.  Experienced  oil  operators  are  having 
great  difficulty  in  properly  excluding  unexpected  water  sands  in  tliis  field  in  order  to 
get  producing  wells.  The  managers  of  concerns  whose  principal  energies  are  directed 
toward  the  realization  of  quick  returns  from  tlie  sale  of  stock  cannot  indefinitely 
circumvent  these  conditions  of  fact.  Tlie  Huntington  Beach  oil  pool  e.xisted  long 
before  town  lots  were  laid  out,  and  there  is  no  worthy  reason  why  this  pool  should 
be  made  the  theatre  of  stock  speculation  instead  of  normal  oil  field  development. 

"Experience  of  normal  development  in  California  shows  that  an  oil  well,  in  order  to 
be  a  going  concern,  sliould  have  an  allotment  of  at  least  five  acres  from  which  it  can 
draw  oil  with  a  minimum  amount  of  interference.  Oil  wells  are  normally  operated 
for  profit,  and  it  is  fair  to  assume  that,  if  greater  profit  could  be  made  hy  drilling 
wells  closer  together  than  is  now  the  practice  in  developed  fields,  they  would  be  so 
drilled. 

"In  Huntington  Beach  oil  n(l<l  it  requiies  anywhere  from  10  to  75  town  lots, 
dependent  upon  their  size,  to  make  the  equivalent  nf  the  minimum  five  acres  a  normal 
oil  well  needs.  Man.v  Imldings  fall  short  of  tliis  minimum  area.  Considering  the  cost 
of  drilling,  lilgli  operating  costs,  and  the  depths  of  wells,  it  is  probable  that  five 
acres  is  not  sufl^cient  for  economic  operation.  In  order  to  yield  a  profit  to  tlie  investor, 
these  small  tracts  must  first  return  the  costs  of  financing,  advertising,  exorbitant 
salaries,  and  commi-ssions  on  sales  of  stocks,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  costs  of 
development  and  .production. 

"The  average  cot  of  drilling  to  production  :it  Huntington  Beach  is  over  $65,000 
per  well.  Depending  upon  depth  to  oil.  difficulties  incident  to  shutting  off  water  and 
sand  troubles,  drilling  costs  alone  vary  from  $10,000  to  $90,000  per  well.     The  output 


'Collom,  R.  E.,  Weekly  press  bulletin.  No.  206,  June  25,  1921. 


28 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


of  present  producers  under  flush  conditions  ranges  from  30  to  2000  barrels  per  day. 
Eighteen  wells  are  now  producing  at  a  daily  rate  of  less  than  400  barrels  per  well. 
Only- one  well  is  producing  over  1000  barrels  per  day.  The  production  comes  from 
depths  varying  from   2300   to   3700   feet. 

"Th(M'e  is  nothing  phenomenal  about  the  geologic  nature  of  the  productive  possi- 
bilities of  Huntington  Beach  oil  fields.  If  given  a  fair  cliance,  it  will  make  a  good 
oil  field.  At  present  the  estimated  probabilities  of  productive  area  are  liberally  indi- 
cated as  1500  acres  and  it  will  ultimately  take  its  place  with  the  smaller  oil  fields  of 
tlie  state  providing,  after  the  stock-jobbing  orgy  is  over,  it  is  recognizable  as  an 
oil  field." 

There  is  a  natural  decrease  in  production  from  all  oil  wells  as  time 
passes  .after  their  completion.  The  average  daily  production  from 
California  wells  decreases  about  two  barrels  each  year.  In  order  to 
maintain  a  given  total  output,  new  wells  must  be  continually  drilled. 
The  area  of  proved  oil  land  increased  in  1920  about  3%  with  a  total  of 
94,567  acres. 

The  use  of  electricity  as  a  motive  power  is  increasing  in  the  oil  fields, 
superseding  both  casing-head  gas  and  crude-oil  fuel.  It  is  proving 
economical  in  cost,  not  only  of  operation,  but  also  of  installation  and 
maintenance;  and  permits  of  increased  oil  production  from  the  wells, 
owing  to  steadier  and  more  continuous  operation. 


Production   Figures. 

The  following  table  gives  the  production  by  counties  for  1920,  com- 
pared with  the  1919  figures : 

TABLE   A. 
Production  and  Value  of  Oil,  by  Counties. 


County 


Barrels 


Value 


Fresno   

Kern 

Los  Angeles 

Orange  

San  Luis  Obispo- 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara  _. 

Santa  Clara  

Ventura  


Totals. 


16,091,037 
47,734,035 
15.076,633 
14,458,722 
31,656 


$20,805,711 

64,440,947 

20,805,754 

26,893,223 

32,922 


Barrels 


Value 


6,089,082  I       6,850,217 

16,724  I  26,695 

1,685,073  2,755,094 


101,182,962  !  $142,610,56v3     *103.377,361 


375,454 
660,438 
026,536 
462,741 

42,511 

322 

,803,583 

16,095 
,989,681 


801.798 
831,991 
488,653 
059,340 

59,515 

968 

140,643 

23,901 
,988,130 


$178,394,937 


*See   p.    25,    ante. 


TABLE    B. 
Average  Price  of  Oil  per  Barrel,  by  Counties. 


County 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1 
1919 

1920 

Fresno   ._  _    _-    ._    ._    

$0,452 
.409 
.550 
.675 

$0,545 
.423 
.629 
.512 

$0,516 
.641 
.651 
.663 
.450 
.794 
.666 
1.C45 

$0,825 

.893 

1.176 

1.003 

.926 

.808 

1.387 

1.318 

$1,191 
1.252 
1.340 
1.412 
.905 
1.235 
1.700 
1.4S0 

$1,293 
1.350  1 
1..380  1 
1.860  j 
1.040  1 
1.125 
1.60O  ! 
1.6:35  1 

$1,483 

Kern   ._    .     ..                     _  _ 

1.714 

Los  Angeles  .    .              

1.532 

Orange   

San  Luis  Obispo      .    _    

2.138 
1.4C0 

Santa  Barbara 

.460 

.530 

1.0.50 

.611 
.666 
.855 

1.575 

Santa  Clara  -    .            _    _. 

1.485 

Ventura         .    . 

2.507 

Slate  average  

$0,461 

$0,479 

$0,636 

$0,908 

$1,278 

$1,409  1 

$1,726 

STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  29 

The  low  price  in  Santa  Barbara  County  for  1919  and  1920  is  due  to 
a  large  production  of  8^  to  10"  gravity  oil  from  tlie  Casnialia  liekl, 
which  brought  only  about  50^  per  barrel  in  1919  and  39^  in  1920.  For 
several  years  previous  to  1919,  the  average  value  per  barrel  at  the  well 
for  crude  oil  as  determined  by  the  statistical  returns  was  noted  to 
practically  coincide  with  the  quotations  during  the  same  years  for  23° 
gravity  oil.  In  1919,  the  average  value  for  all  grades  worked  out  at 
a  figure  corresponding  to  the  quotations  for  28''  oil,  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  increased  output  of  that  year  was  mainly  from  the  INIontebello  field 
in  Los  Angeles  County  which  yielded  high-gravity  oil.  The  1920  figure 
of  $1,726  corresponds  approximately  to  the  average  of  quotations  for 
24°-25°  oil  for  the  year. 

TOTAL    PETROLEUM    PRODUCTION    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

The  presence  of  oil  seepages  and  springs  in  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura 
counties  was  known  and  even  utilized  in  a  small  way  early  in  the 
history  of  California.  According  to  Ilanks,^  in  1874  production 
amounted  to  36  bbl.  per  day  from  natural  flows  in  Pico  Canon  (New- 
hall),  and  at  Sulphur  Mountain  (Ventura  County),  the  oil  being  o£ 
32°  gravity  average. 

-"Work  was  commenced  in  Pico  Canon  in  1875,  by  drilling  three 
shallow  wells  with  spring  pole,  all  of  which  yielded  oil  at  depths  of 
from  90  to  250  feet.  Actual  work  of  development  commenced  with 
steam  machiner^^  in  1877.'' 

In  1877,  Pico  averaged  40-50  bbl.  daily,  and  Ventura,  80  bbl.  daily. 
In  1878,  there  was  some  production  (@  60  bbl.  per  day,  for  a  time) 
from  wells  in  Moody  Gulch,  near  Los  Gatos,  Santa  Clara  Countj^,  the 
oil  being  of  46°  Baume. 

The  first  wells  in  the  Coalinga,  Fresno  County,  and  Summerland, 
Santa  Barbara  County,  fields  were  drilled  in  1890,  but  Coalinga  did 
not  make  its  influence  felt  conspicuously  on  the  state's  annual  output 
until  1903.  The  Summerland  yield  never  has  been  large.  The  Salt 
Lake  field  near  Los  Angeles  began  production  in  1894  and  in  1897 
reached  over  a  million  barrels  annually. 

In  the  Kern  County  fields,  the  first  wtII  w^as  drilled  in  Sunset  in 
1891,  Midway  in  1900,  :\IcKittrick  in  1892,  Kern  River  in  1899.  The 
Sunset-Midway  district  attained  a  yield  of  over  4,000,000  bbl.  in  1909, 
and  over  20,000,000  bbl.  in  1910.  Kern  Kiver  field  produced  over 
3,000,000  bbl.  in  1901. 


'Hanks,  Henry  G.,  Report  IV  of  State  Mineralogist,  p-  298,  1884. 
'Idem,  p.   301. 


30 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  first  well  in  the  Santa  Maria-Lonipoc  yroiip,  Santa  Barbara 
County,  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  the  district  advanced  to  a  yield  of 
over  3,000,000  bbl.  annually  in  1905. 

The  Whittier-FuUerton  field  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties 
became  an  important  factor  in  1902.  The  Montebello  field,  Los  Angeles 
County,  was  the  conspicuous  addition  in  1919,  and  Elk  Hills,  Kerji 
County,  and  Huntington  Beach,  Orange  County,  in  1920. 

The  effect  of  the  advent  of  these  various  fields  to  the  producing 
column  will  be  noted  in  the  tabulation  herewith,  by  years : 


TABLE  c. 
Total   Petroleum    Production    In    California. 


Year 

Barrels 

Value 

Year 

Barrels 

Value 

To  and  inc.  1875 

(a)  175,000 

12,000 

13,000 

15,227 

19,858 

40,552 

99,862 

128,636 

142,857 

262,000 

325,000 

(a)  377, 145 

678,572 

690,333 

303,220 

307,360 

323,600 

385,049 

470,179 

783,078 

1,245,339 

1,257,780 

1,911,569 

2,249,088 

(b)$472,50O 

30,000 

29,250 

30,454 

39,716 

60,828 

124,828 

257,272 

285,714 

655  OOO 

750,750 

(b)870,205 

1,357,144 

1,380,666 

368,048 

384,200 

401,264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064,521 

1,000,235 

1,180.793 

1,918,269 

2,376,420 

1899 

2,677,875 

4,329,950 

7,710,315 

14,356,910 

24.340,839 

$2,660,793 

1876 

1900 

4,152,928 

1877 

ISOl            

2,961,102 

1878 

1S02...      

4,692,189 

1879 

1S03 

7,313,271 

1880     ._      _    - 

1904 

1905            

29,736,003 
34,275,701 

8,317,809 

1881  - 

9,007,820 

1882  ._. 

1906 

1907 

32,624,000 
40,311,171 
48,306,910 

9,238,020 

188;? 

16,783,943 

1884 

1908       .      _ 

26,566,181 

1885 

1S09 

58,191,723 
77,697,.568 
84,048,157 

32,398,187 

1886 

1910 

37,689,542 

1887 

1911 

1912 

40.552.088 

1888 

89,689,250  '      41,868,344 
98,494,532        48,578,014 

1889 

1913 

1890 

1914 

102,881,907        47,487,109 

1891 —    — 

1915 

91,146,620        43.503.837 

1892 .. 

1916 

90,262,557 
95,396,309 
99,731,177 

57,421,334 

1893 

1917 

86,976,209 

1894 

1918 

127.459.221 

1805 

1919 - 

101,182,962       142,610.563 

1896 

1920 

103,377,361  i    178,394,937 

18Q7 

Totals 

1898 

1,343,586,101 

$992,840,949 

(a)  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1886,  p.  440,  for  quantities  to  and  including  1886. 

(b)  Values  have  been  estimated  for  the  years  to  and  including  1886,  after  consult- 
ing a  number  of  contemporaneous  publications,  including  the  Mining  &  Scientific 
Press,  Reports  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  and  U.  S.  Reports.  The  figures  for  1887  to 
date  are  from  records  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau. 


STATISTICS    OF    AXNUAL   PRODUCTIOX. 


31 


Well  flowing  over  10,000  barrels  of  oil  per  day.     Elk  Hills, 
Kern  County,  California. 

The  following  table  shows  the  distribution,  by  fields,  of  the  1920  out- 
put, compared  with  1919,  as  given  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company : 

TABLE    D, 

Production    by   Fields.* 

(In  barrels  of  42  gallons.) 


Field 


1919 


1920 


Kern  River  

McKit trick    

Midway-Sunset  

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

Coalinga 

Lompoc  and  Santa  Maria 

Ventura  County  and  Newhall.. 

Los  Angole.s  and  Salt  Lake 

Whittier-Fullerton   

Sumnierland  

Watsonville  and  miscellaneous. 


Totals- 
Net  increase . 


7,563,025 
2,810,S48 

32,003,952 
4,554,821 

16,385,610 
6.030,910 
1.792,465 
1.341,415 

28,657,683 
53,680 
27,375 


101.221,784 


7.4.56,515 
2.607.240 

37.917,010 
4,139,767 

15,464,198 
5,928,060 
2,122.449 
1.311.2&1 

28.694.163 
54,910 
25,610 


105.721,186 
4,499,402 


•Standard  Oil   Bulletin,   January.    1921. 


32 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  figures  of  the  ludepeiideiit  Producers  Agency  show  101,907,729 
bbl.  for  1919,  and  105,618,706  bbl.  for  1920.  The  reason  that  the  State 
Mining  Bureau's  totals  are  less  than  those  of  the  Standard  and  Agency- 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  a  deduction  of  approximately  2%  has  been  made 
for  water  content  in  the  oil  as  pumped  and  as  reported  from  pipe-line 
runs. 

The  following  table  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  statements  con- 
tained in  the  Standard  Oil  Bulletin : 

TABLE   E. 
Well  Operations,  by  Fields,  1920. 


Producing 
Dec,  1919 


Producing 
Dec,  1920 


Completed 

during 

year 


Abandoned 

during 

year 


Bbl.  per  well 
produced 
per  day, 
Dec,  1920 


Kern  River 

McKittrick  

Midway-Sunset  _- 

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

Coalinga  _J 

Santa  Maria-Lompoc 

Ventura  and  Newhall 

Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake. 

Whittier-Fullerton 

Summerland  

Watsonville   


2,067 
341 

2,348 
561 

1,229 
378 
504 
665 
887 
142 
5 


2,152 
352 

2,509 
591 

1,293 
406 
513 
666 
990 
140 
9 


Totals, 


9,127 


9,621 


93 

8 

197 

27 

66 

28 

28 

2 

123 


9.3 
19.3 
55.4 
18.7 
31.7 
39.7 
11.8 

5.4 
82.1 

1.14 

7.2 


572 


74 


*33.8 


♦State  average. 


The  proportion  of  heavy  and  light  oil  produced  in  the  various  fields 
is  shown  by  the  following  figures,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company.  Oil  below  18°  Baume  may  be  considered  as 
largely  unrefinable,  or  fuel  oil,  while  the  lighter  oils  yield  varying 
amounts  of  refined  products  and  a  very  large  proportion  of  residuum 
and  fuel  oil.  A  fcAv  years  ago,  the  total  amount  of  heavy  oil  was  in 
excess  of  the  light  oil. 

TABLE    F. 
Production  of  Light  and  Heavy  Oil,  by  Fields,  1920. 


Under  IS" 
(barrels) 


1S°  and  over 
(barrels) 


Total 
(barrels) 


Kern  River 

McKittrick  

Midway-Sunset    

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

Coalinga  

Santa  Maria-Lompoc 

Ventura  County  and  Newhall. 

Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake 

Whittier-Fullerton  

Summerland  

Watsonville 


456,515 

607,240 
780,449 
245,625 
613,158 
,024,550 

83,045 
,160,920 
,233,610 

54,910 


28,136,561 
2,894,142 
9,851,040 
2,903,510 
2,039,404 
150,344 

27,460,553 


25.610 


7,456^515 
2,607,240 

37.917,010 
4,139,767 

15.464,198 
5,928,060 
2,122,449 
1.311,264 

28,694,163 
54,910 
25,610 


Totals. 


32,260.022 


73,461,164 


105,721,186 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  33 

In  addition  to  consnmins  tlu-  cnn-cnt  production  of  crndo  oil,  the 
storage  was  drawn  npon  at  an  average  rate  of  22,514  barrels  per  day 
dnring  1920.  According  to  the  Standard  Oil  Company,*  the  stocks  on 
hand  December  81,  1920,  amounted  to  22,240,271  ])arrels,  a  decrease  of 
8,240,052  barrels  from  the  30,480,328  barrels  on  hand  December  31, 
1919. 

Federal   Trade   Commission    Report. 

The  Federal  Trade  Commission,  following  an  investigation  ordered 
by  the  United  States  Senate  under  the  'Poindexter  Resolution'  of  July 
28,  1919,  has  recently  (April  7,  1921 )  issued  Part  I  of  its  report  on  the 
'Pacific  Coast  Petroleum  Industry.'  This  part  deals  with  production, 
ownership,  and  profits.  Part  J  I,  which  is  in  course  of  preparation,  will 
discuss  prices,  marketing  methods,  and  competitive  conditions. 

The  portion  of  the  report  already  issued  contains  much  of  interest 
and  importance  to  California;  for  which  reason  we  here  quote  it  some- 
what at  length : 

"Tiie  outstanding  facts  regarding  tlie  Pacific  Coast  Petroleum  Industry  shown  in 
tliis  part  of  tlie  report  may  be  concisely  stated  as  follows: 

"(1)  Owing-  to  the  scarcity  and  liigli  pi-ices  of  coal,  petroleum  products,  especially 
fuel  oil  and  gasoline,  are  probably  of  more  importance  to  industry  and  commerce  on 
the  Pacific  coast  than  in  any  other  large  section  of  the  country. 

"(2)  California,  however,  is  one  of  tlie  largest  petroleuin  producing  states;  Its 
output  lias  rapidly  increased,  and  there  are  no  present  indications  of  a  decline  in  the 
near  future. 

"(3)  Recently,  i.  e.,  from  June.  1915,  to  January,  1921,  demand  has  exceeded 
supply,  with  a  consequent  steady  reduction  of  stocks,  but  since  the  beginning  of  this 
year  production  has  exceeded  consumption  and  stocks  have  increased  slightly. 

"(4)  The  oil  land  'withdrawals'  ordered  bj-  the  Government  in  1909,  for  the  purpose 
of  reserving  a  supply  for  the  Navy  and  in  order  to  suspend  the  patenting  of  oil 
lands  until  the  public  land  laws  could  be  revised,  did  not  prevent  overproduction 
down  to  June,  1915,  but  from  then  until  1920,  had  probably  a  somewhat  retarding 
influence  on  tlie   development  of   new   production. 

"(5)  All  branches  of  tlie  pretroleuni  industry  on  the  Pacific  coast,  i.  e..  crude 
petroleum  production,  pipe-line  transpoitation,  and  refining  and  marketing,  are  domi- 
nated by  a  few  large  interests  wliich  control  most  of  the  proven  oil  lands  and  operate 
nearly  all  the  pipe-line  and  refining  equipment. 

"(6)  The  costs  of  producing  crude  petroleum  vary  widely  between  different  fields 
and  between  different  companies  in  the  same  field.  The  chief  factor  in  cost  seems  to 
be  the  volume  of  production  per  well.  The  large  companies  as  a  group  have  the  more 
productive  wells  and  show  the  lowest   average  costs. 

"(7)  There  was  a  great  increase  in  the  cost  of  production  of  crude  petroleum 
between  1914  and  1919  for  all  classes  of  companies;  there  was  also  a  marked  increase 
in  the  cost  of  transportation  by  pipe  line  and  in  the  cost  of  refining. 

"(8)  The  profits  of  the  crude  petroleum  industry  of  California  were  comparatively 
low  in  1914  and  1915,  but  they  were  unusually  large  in  1918  and  1919.  This  increase 
in  the  average  rate  of  earnings  resulted  from  a  great  advance  in  crude  petroleum 
prices.  While  the  average  rates  of  earnings  from  the  crude  petroleum  business  in  the 
later  years  were  large,  the  fact  that  there  was  a  scarcity  of  crude,  resulting  from  a 
steady  growth  in  demand,  appears  to  afford  an  adequate  economic  explanation  of  the 
Increase  in  prices  and  earnings. 

"(9)  With  respect  to  gasoline,  kerosene,  fuel  oil,  and  other  products  of  crude 
petroleum,  the  factors  affecting  prices  were  more  complex  and  coiirUisions  as  to  their 
reasonableness  are  reserved  to  the  second  part  of  tliis  report,  which  deals  particularly 
with  sucli  prices. 

"(10 J  The  earnings  of  the  five  large  integrated  companies,  namely,  the  Standard 
Oil  Co.  (California),  the  Union  Oil  Co.  of  California,  the  Associated  Oil  Co..  the 
Shell  Co.  of  California,  and  tlie  General  Petroleum  Corporation,  which  are  engaged  in 
crude  petroleum  production,  pipe-line  transportation,  refining,  and  marketing  of 
gasoline,  fuel  oil,  and  other  petroleum  products,  and  which  are  the  dominating  factors 
in  this  industry  on  the  Pacific  coast,  were  generally  low  in  1914  and  1915,  but  they 
all  show  either  very  good  or  very  high  rates  of  earnings  in  1918  and  the  first  half 
of  1919. 

"(11)  Data  regarding  the  results  of  the  petroleum  industry  for  the  whole  country 
for   the  entire   year    1919    indicate   that   the   situation   as   to   profits  in   the   California 


'Standard  Oil   Pulletin,  January,  1921. 
3—12865 


34  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 

petroleum   industry  was   not  exceptional  compared  with  other  sections  of  the  United 
States  in  that  year. 

"(12)  While  the  petroleum  shortage  of  1919  and  the  first  part  of  1920  seems  to 
have  been  temporarily  met,  both  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  in  the  United  States  as  a 
whole,  the  problem  of  an  adequate  petroleum  supply  for  the  future  does  not  appear 
to  be  fully  solved  and  the  Commission  reiterates  certain  recommendations  which  it 
made  in  a  report  to  the  House  of  Representatives  on  June  1,  1920,  namely,  (a)  that 
the  active  support  of  the  Government  be  given  to  those  engaged  in  the  oil  industry 
to  develop  production  in  foreign  countries;  (b)  that  methods  of  drilling  for  petroleum 
and  the  utilization  of  petroleum  products  and  their  substitutes  should  be  a 
subject  of  special  study  in  technological  and  economic  aspects  with  a  view  to  conserv- 
ing the  supply;  (c)  that  the  great  importance  of  information  regarding  changes  in 
industrial  and  commercial  conditions  in  the  oil  trade  suggests  the  need  of  making  pro- 
vision for  having  such  information  currently  collected  and  reported  for  the  use  of 
Congress,  the  public,  and  the  industry. 

******* 

"PRODUCTION  OF  CRUDE  PETROLEUM. 

******* 
"California  has  produced  a  larger  aggregate  quantity  of  crude  petroleum  tlian 
any  other  single  State,  and  during  recent  years  it  has  ranked  eitlier  first  or  second 
in  the  quantity  of  its  annual  production.  In  1920  it  produced  105,721,000  barrels, 
which  is  its  largest  annual  production  up  to  the  present  time,  and  constituted  23.8  per 
cent  of  the  total  output  of  the  United  States.  There  was  an  overproduction  of  crude 
petroleum  in  California  from  1910  to  the  middle  of  1915  and  large  quantities  were 
placed  in  storage.  Beginning  in  1915  and  continuing  through  1920  the  annual  cosump- 
tion  of  California  crude  petroleum  has  exceeded  its  annual  production.  Even  with  the 
record  of  105,721,000  barrels  in  1920,  consumption  exceeded  production  by  about 
8,240,000  barrels.  At  the  present  time,  1921,  due  to  the  discovery  of  new  oil  pools 
and  the  resumption  of  development  of  'withdrawn'  lands,  production  has  been 
increased  to  such  an  extent  that,  should  the  present  rates  of  production  and  consump- 
tion be  maintained,  the  1921  output  will  again  exceed  consumption. 

"California  crude  petroleum  generally  contains  a  much  smaller  gasoline  content 
than  that  produced  in  other  oil  fields  of  this  country,  and  a  considerable  percentage 
of  the  crude  petroleum  is  sold  directly  for  fuel  purposes.  In  recent  years,  however, 
the  proportion  of  lighter  gravity  crude  petroleum,  which  contains  a  higher  gasoline 
content  has  increased,  namely,  from  45  per  cent  in  1910  to  69  per  cent  in  1914,  since 
which  time  its  proportion  has  fluctuated  from  65  to  68  per  cent.  This  increase  makes 
it  possible  to  obtain  a  larger  percentage  of  gasolirie,  but  it  lessens  the  proportion  of 
fuel  oil.  An  adequate  supply  of  petroleum  is  more  important  for  the  Pacific  coast 
than  for  any  other  section  of  the  country,  as  it  constitutes  the  main  or  only  source  of 
fuel  for  heating  purposes,  marine  and  river  navigation,  public  utilities,  railways,  and 
for  mining  and  manufacturing  industries.  Even  its  dependence  upon  gasoline  and 
other  motor  fuels  is  greater  than  in  any  other  section  for  use  by  the  agricultural  and 
horticultural  industries.  California  supplies  most  of  the  industries  of  Arizona.  Cali- 
fornia, Nevada,  Oregon  and  Washington  with  fuel  and  refined  products.  The  absence 
of  an' adequate  supply  and  the  relatively  high  price  of  coal  make  fuel  oil  a  very 
important  factor  in  the  entire  Pacific  coast  region. 

"CONTROL  OF  THE  INDUSTRY. 

"Every  branch  of  the  petroleum  industry,  from  the  ownership  of  oil  lands  to  the 
distribution  of  refined  products,  is  controlled  by  a  few  large  interests.  In  the  owner- 
ship of  oil  lands  and  the  production  of  crude  petroleum  there  are  seven  large  interests, 
namely,  the  Union  Oil  Co.  of  California,  the  Associated  Oil  Co.-Southern  Pacific 
interests,  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  (California),  the  Shell  Co.  of  California,  the  General 
Petroleum  Corporation,  the  Doheny  companies,  and  the  Santa  Fe  Railway. 

"The  seven  large  interests  named  above,  owned  68  per  cent  of  the  proven  oil  lands 
in  California  on  March  1,  1920,  while  in  1919,  according  to  the  California  State  Mining 
Bureau,  there  were  345  different  concerns  engaged  in  the  business  of  producing 
crude  petroleum.  In  that  same  year,  these  seven  interests  produced  practically  71.5 
per  cent  of  all  the  crude  petroleum  production  of  the  State.  Three  of  these,  namely, 
the  Associated  Oil  Co.-Southern  Pacific  interests,  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  (California), 
and  the  Union  Oil  Co.  of  California,  owned  51.5  per  cent  of  the  proven  oil  lands,  and 
produced  52  per  cent  of  the  State's  total  production  ;  while  these  three  interests, 
together  with  the  Shell  Co.  of  California  and  the  General  Petroleum  Corporation,  own 
58.5  per  cent  of  the  proven  oil  lands  and  produced  62  per  cent  of  the  1919  production. 

"Five  large  companies,  viz:  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  (California),  the  Union  Oil  Co.  of 
California,  the  Associated  Oil  Co.,  the  Shell  Co.  of  California,  and  the  General 
Petroleum  Corporation,  are  the  only  important  factors  in  the  transportation  of  crude 
petroleum  by  pipe  line  and  tank  steamers,  in  petroleum  refining,  and  in  the  distribu- 
tion and  marketing  of  petroleum  products  in  the  Pacific  coast  territory.  These  large 
interests  own  and  operate  practically  all  of  the  trunk  pipe  lines  in  California.  Prior 
to  1914  the  pipe-line  capacity  was  at  times  not  sufficient  to  transport  the  current 
production,  but  from  1914  to  1920  the  carrying  capacity  of  the  pipe  lines  has  greatly 
exceeded  the  current  production.  These  same  interests  own  almost  94  per  cent  of 
the  fixed  investment  in  petroleum  refineries,  89  per  cent  of  the  rated  daily  refining 
capacity,  and  in  1919  refined  91  per  cent  of  all  the  crude  petroleum  con.sumed  by 
refineries  in  California. 


STATISTICS   OP  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  35 

"COST   OF   CRUDE   PETROLEUM. 

•  ••*•*• 

"There  is  a  very  wide  range  in  tlie  costs  for  individual  companies.  In  1914  the 
lowest  cost  per  barrel  was  $0,031,  and  the  highest  sixty-three  times  as  great,  or 
$1.96;  while  in  1918,  the  last  complete  year  for  which  costs  are  shown,  the  range  was 
from  $0.14  per  barrel  to  $5.36.  Neither  the  very  low  nor  the  excessively  high  costs 
are  representative.  The  lowest  cost  in  1914  was  due  to  a  very  large  production  from 
tiowing  wells,  while  the  abnormally  high  cost  in  1918  was  the  result  of  a  small  pro- 
duction for  that  year  for  a  company  having  a  very  large  investment,  which  resulted 
in  a  very  high  cost  per  barrel  for  depletion.  Some  of  the  companies  showing  very 
low  costs  in  one  year  had  relatively  high  costs  in  other  years,  and  the  same  is  true 
for  companies  having  very  high  costs.  While  in  1918  the  cost  of  producing  crude 
petroleum  for  individual  companies  ranged  from  $0.14  to  $5.36  per  barrel,  55  per  cent 
of  the  total  production  covered  by  tlie  report  was  produced  by  ZO  companies  at  a  cost 
not  exceeding  $0.42  per  barrel,  sliglitly  more  than  89  per  cent  was  produced  by  40 
companies  at  a  cost  of  not  more  than  $0,568  per  barrel,  and  the  cost  of  only  3  per 
cent  of  this  production,  i-epresenting  tlie  output  of  41  small  companies,  e.xceeded  $1 
per  barrel.     For  different  fields  there  are  wide  differences  in  tlie  average  costs. 

"EARNINGS  FROM  PETROLEUM  PRODUCTION. 

"The  crude  petroleum  industry  is  consequently  one  of  very  variable  returns.  In 
each  year  from  1914  to  19]  S  there  were  many  companies  whose  costs  were  in  excess 
of  the  prices  at  which  tiiey  sold  their  crude  petroleum.  Thus,  out  of  the  96  com- 
panies reporting  in  1914  tliere  were  47  companies  which  lost  money,  and  out  of  the 
134  companies  reporting  in  1918  tlicre  were  28  companies  which  showed  a  loss.  In 
each  case,  however,  the  production  affected  was  comparatively  small ;  thus  17.9  per 
cent  in  1914  and  1.6  per  cent  in  1918  of  the  total  quantity  reported  was  produced  at 
a  loss.  The  very  speculative  character  of  crude-petroleum  production  for  companies 
beginning  operations  or  for  companies  without  a  large  established  production  is  made 
clear  by  the  detailed  figures  given  in  the  report. 

"PIPE-LINE    TRANSPORTATION. 

"Five  large  interests,  viz:  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  (California),  the  Associated  Oil  Co., 
the  Union  Oil  Co.  of  California,  the  General  Petroleum  Corporation,  and  the  Shell 
Co.  of  California  either  own  directly  or  through  subsidiaries  practically  all  of  the 
trunk  pipe-line  mileage  of  the  State  of  California.  The  combined  mileage  of  their 
trunk  pipe  lines  aggregate  about  2450  miles  and  with  a  gross  investment  of  almost 
$50,000,000.  Their  rated  daily  capacity  is  about  380,000  barrels,  which  is  sufficient  to 
transport  138,700,000  barrels  annually,  or  33,000,000  in  excess  of  the  1920  production 
for  the  State. 

"The  cost  of  constructing  trunk  pipe  lines  is  greater  in  California  than  in  other 
sections  of  the  country.  For  example,  an  8-inch  pipe  line  built  in  California  in  1915 
cost  about  $18,800  per  mile,  while  the  same  size  of  line  in  the  Mid-Continent  field 
would  have  cost  about  $10,250.' 

"This  higher  cost  ot  construction  is  partly  due  to  the  fact  that  it  is  necessary  to 
equip  the  pipe  lines  in  California  with  heating  facilities,  which  are  used  to  raise  the 
temperature  of  the  crude  to  about  150°  in  order  to  facilitate  its  flow  through  the  lines, 
and  partly  to  the  necessity  of  placing  the  trunk  pipe-line  pumping  stations  about  15 
miles  apart  as  compared  with  appro.ximately  40  miles  in  the  Mid-Continent  field. 

"The  costs  of  transporting  crude  petroleum  by  pipe  line,  according  to  information 
furnished  by  the  companies,  increased  for  most  companies.  The  costs  for  shipment 
from  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  fields  to  San  Francisco  Bay  points  increased  from  $0,142 
per  barrel  in  1914  to  $0,213  for  the  first  half  of  1919  for  one  company,  while  another 
company  shows  an  increase  from  $0,115  to  $0,221  for  the  same  years;  this  represents 
an  increase  of  about  50  per  cent  for  one  company  and  almost  100  per  cent  for 
the  other. 

"All  of  the  pipe  lines  from  the  California  oil  fields  are  intrastate  lines,  hence  they 
were  not  made  common  carriers  by  the  Hepburn  Act  placing  interstate  pipe  lines 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission.  However,  the  State 
of  California  in  1913  enacted  legislation  declaring  pipe  lines  common  carriers.  Some 
of  the  pipe-line  companies  voluntarily  filed  tariffs  with  the  State  Railway  Commission. 
While  two  companies  contested  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  Railway  Commission, 
one  was  judicially  held  to  be  a  common  carrier  and  the  other  a  private  carrier  and 
not  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  railway  commission. 

"The  pipe-line  rates  that  have  been  named  by  the  companies  filing  tariffs  originally 
conformed  closely  to  the  railroad  rates  and  disregarded  entirely  the  cost  of  the 
service  plus  a  reasonable  return  on  the  investment  in  the  pipe-line  properties.  Rates 
from  the  different  San  .Joaquin  Valley  fields  to  San  Francisco  Bay  points  are  now 
35  cents  per  barrel  for  distances  ranging  from  about  200  to  300  miles,  while  the  rates 
for  short  distances,  for  example,  about  30  miles,  range  from  8  to  10  cents  per  barrel. 
Since  the  pipe-line  companies  have  not  transported  crude  petroleum  as  common 
carriers,  except  in  the  case  of  a  subsidiary,  which  has  transported  only  for  the  parent 
company,  the  rates  have  been  of  interest  only  to  the  different  departments  of  the  five 
large  companies. 


'Federal    Trade    Commission,    Report    on    Pipe    Line    Transportation    of    Petroleum, 
pp.  55  and  59. 


36  MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"COST   OF    REFINING. 

"Five  comraiiies,  ^■iz:  tin-  Staiulaid  ()il  Co.  i  California) ,  tlie  I'liion  Oil  Co.  of 
California,  the  Associated  Oil  Co.,  the  Shell  Co.  of  C^alifornia,  and  the  General 
Petroleum  Corporation,  at  the  end  of  1919  owned  and  operated  15  refineries  repre- 
senting a  gross  investment  of  ,$-17,000,000,  out  of  a  total  for  the  State  of  $50,000,000. 
These  refineries  had  in  1919  a  rated  daily  capacity  of  almost  275,000  barrels  out  of  a 
total  of  about  308,000  barrels  and  refined  66,445.000  barrels  of  the  State's  total  of 
72,618,000  barrels.  In  other  words,  these  five  companies  owned  94  per  cent  of  the 
gross  investment  in  refineries,  operated  89  per  cent  of  the  rated  daily  refining 
capacity,  and  in  1919  consumed  91  per  cent  of  the  crude  petroleum  refined. 

"As  already  stated,  California  crude  petroleum  yields  a  smaller  percentage  of 
gasoline  and  naplitlia  than  is  generally  secured  from  the  crude  petroleum  produced  in 
other  fields,  but  in  recent  years  the  percentage  obtained  has  increased  considerably. 
From  1916-1920  tlie  proportion  obtained  has  increased  from  11.7  to  15.4  per  cent. 
This  increase  was  partly  due  to  the  larger  percentage  of  light  refinable  crude  petro- 
leum produced  in  California,  wliich  increased  from  65  per  cent  in  1916  to  about  70 
per  cent  in  1920,  and  partly  to  the  efforts  of  the  large  refiners  to  increase  the 
gasoline  and  naphtlia  yields  throu.gh  the  use  of  the  Buiton  Proce.ss  and  t)tlier  improved 
methods  of  refining.  The  effect  of  both  of  tliese  factors  has  been  somewhat  obscured, 
however,  by  the  practice  of  lefining  heavier  crudes  than  formerly  ;  these  heavier 
crudes   yield   a   very   small   proportion   of  gasoline  and   naphtha. 

"The  cost  of  refining  crude  peti-oleum  is  shown  in  detail  for  the  five  companies 
named  above  for  the  period  1916— June  30,  1919,  and  for  two  of  the  companies  from 
1914  to  the  latter  date.  The  cost  of  refining  a  barrel  of  crude  petroleum,  including 
the  cost  of  the  crude,  for  all  companies  combined  increased  from  $0,738  per  barrel  in 
1916  to  $1,259  for  the  first  half  of  1919  ;  this  represents  an  increase  of  71  per  cent. 
The  crude  petroleum  costs  are  taken  at  the  actual  cost  of  production,  if  produced,  or 
at  purchase  price,  if  bought.  There  was  a  wide  range  in  the  costs  for  indiyidual 
companies.  In  1916  the  lowest  cost  for  a  particular  company  was  $0,602  and  the 
highest  $0,845,  whicli  represents  a  difference  of  $0,243,  or  40  per  cent,  while  in  1919 
the  lowest  cost  was  $0.95  and  the  highest  $1,631,  which  gives  a  difference  of  $0,681, 
or  71.7  per  cent.  The  companies  showing  high  costs  are  those  purchasing  a  large 
proportion  of  the  crude  petroleum  they  refine. 

"The  principal  element  of  cost  for  a  barrel  of  refined  petroleum  products  is  the 
raw  material — crude  petroleum — even  when  the  crude  is  charged  to  the  refinery  at 
its  cost  of  production  plus  transportation  cost.  On  this  basis  the  raw  material 
represented  79.4  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  in  1914  and  about  74  per  cent  in  1919. 
The  refinery  operating  expense  was  about  13.5  per  cent  in  1914  and  17.7  per  cent  in 
1919,  while  the  general  and  administrative  and  depreciation  combined  were  7.1  per 
cent  in  1914  and  8.3  per  cent  in  1919.  The  refining  labor  cost  is  a  very  small  factor 
in  the  cost  of  a  barrel  of  refined  petroleum  products,  and  during  the  period  covered 
it  varied  from  only  $0,012  in   1914  to  $0,046  in  1919. 

"The  advantages  possessed  by  the  large  integrated  companies  over  companies 
engaged  in  refining  only  is  made  apparent  by  a  comparison  of  the  combined  integrated 
costs  shown  for  the  five  large  companies,  i.  e..  crude  charged  to  their  refineries  at 
actual  producing  and  pipe-line  transportation  cost,  with  costs  computed  on  the  basis 
of  crude  petroleum  at  the  curi'ent  market  prices  in  the  oil  fields,  plus  transportation 
charges  at  published  tariff  rates.  For  all  companies  for  which  costs  are  shown 
their  cost  of  refining  a  barrel  of  crude  petroleum  would  have  been  $0.24  per  barrel,  or 
32  per  cent  higher  in  1914,  had  they  not  owned  crude  petroleum  production  and  pipe 
lines;  while  in  1919  it  would  have  been  $0.69  per  barrel,  or  55  per  cent  greater. 
Hence,  it  is  evident  that  it  is  practically  impossible  for  a  refiner  without  low-cost 
petroleum  production  and  pipe  lines,  unless  the  refmery  is  near  the  oil  field,  to  become 
an  important  factor  in  the  petroleum  industry  in  California. 

"EARNINGS   OF    LARGE    COMPANIES. 

******* 

"The  Commission's  revision  shows  that  the  rates  of  earnings  for  the  five  large 
integrated  companies  from  the  petroleum  business  were  generally  low  in  1914  and 
1915  or  that  some  of  them  incurred  losses,  while  beginning  with  1916  there  was  gen- 
erally a  rapid  increase  until  in  1918  and  the  first  half  of  1919  the  rates  of  profit  for 
each  company  were  quite  large. 

"The  question  of  the  reasonableness  of  prices  for  the  various  petroleum  products 
will  be  discussed  fully  in  Part  II.  However,  in  an  industry  such  as  the  petroleum 
business,  which  produces  a  large  number  of  different  products,  the  reasonableness  of 
prices  can  only  be  satisfactorily  answered  after  the  profits  of  the  business  have  been 
ascertained.  The  price  of  a  particular  product,  such  as  gasoline,  may  be  advanced  and 
appear  unreasonably  high,  without  increasing  the  margin  obtained  by  the  refiner,  if 
other  products  decline  in  price  or  costs  increase  without  corresponding  increases  in 
the  price  of  other  products.  As  already  pointed  out,  by  far  the  most  important 
element  in  the  cost  of  a  barrel  of  refined  petroleum  is  the  cost  of  the  raw  material — 
crude  petroleum.  During  the  period  1914-June  30,  1919,  the  price  of  crude  petroleum 
in  California  advanced  greatly,  and  at  the  present  time,  April,  1921,  crude  petroleum 
prices  are  still  at  the  highest  level  ever  attained.  The  rates  of  earnings  for  crude 
petroleum  producing  companies  sliow  clearly  that  the  prices  were  not  remunerative 
for  a  substantial  proportion  of  tlie  production  in  1914  and  1915.  In  1918  and  1919. 
however,  such  prices  were  advanced  until  this  branch  of  the;  business,  so  far  as 
reported  to  the  Commission,  e.xcept  for  a  small  percentage  of  the  production,  was  very 
profitable  and  the  earnings  increased  from  $0.17  to  $0.79  per  barrel.  Apparently 
during  the  last  half  of  1919  and  in  1920  this  branch  of  the  industry  was  also  very 
profitable.  Supply  and  demand  conditions  were  sucli  that  high  prices  of  crude 
petroleum  appear  to  have  been  logical  in  order  to  stimulate  to  the  utmost  the 
production  of  crude  petroleum. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  37 

"EARNINGS   FOR   ENTIRE   INDUSTRY. 

"For  comparison  with  the  foregoing  data  for  the  Pacific  coast  territory  the 
following  facts  regarding  the  petroleum  industry  for  the  United  States  are  of  interest. 
This  Information  was  reported  by  the  companies  and  was  not  checked  with  their 
records  by  representatives  of  the  Commission,  as  was  the  case  for  the  large  companies 
already  discussed.  It  was  -secured  only  for  tlie  year  1919  in  connection  with  another 
inquiry  in  response  to  House  resolution  .501.  Sixty-sixth  Congress,  second  session,  and 
was  furnished  by  the  companies  in  schedules  prepared  by  the  Commission.  Fairly 
complete  data  were  furni.shed  for  82  producing  companies  and  138  refining  companies. 

"A  total  production  of  239.038,000  barrels  of  crude  petroleum,  or  63.-3  per  cent  of 
the  total  production  of  377,719,000  barrels  for  the  United  States,  as  reported  by  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey,  was  covered  by  these  reports.  Of  this  total 
reported,  224,190,000  barrel."?,  or  .59.4  per  cent  of  the  total  production  of  the  United 
States,  was  produced  by  32  large  companies  and  their  subsidiaries,  each  of  which 
produced  over  1.000.000  barrels.  These  32  companies,  however,  represent  only  20 
different  interests ;  9  companies  are  members  of  the  Standard  Oil  group  and  the 
remaining  23  large  independents.  The  9  Standard  companies  produced  21.3  per  cent 
of  the  total  production  of  the  United  States  in  1919,  while  the  23  large  independents 
produced  38.1  per  cent  of  the  total.  Most  of  these  companies  also  refined  crude  oil 
or  were  closely  affiliated  with  refining  companies. 

"The  Crude-petroleum  producing  companies  of  the  Standard  Oil  group  produced 
8.5  per  cent  of  the  total,  while  Standard  companies  which  are  also  engaged  in  refining 
produced  12.8  per  cent.  The  independent  producing  companies  produced  6.7  per  cent 
of  the  total,  while  the  independent  companies  which  al.so  refined  produced  31.4  per 
cent.  For  both  Standard  and  independents  the  production  was  15.2  per  cent  for 
producing  companies  and   44.2   per   cent   for  those  which  also  refined. 

"Companies  belonging  to  the  Standard  Oil  group  owned  30. 5  per  cent  of  the  total 
rated  refining  capacity  of  the  United  States  in  1919.  as  reported  by  the  Bureau  of 
Mines,  and  they  were  operated  at  a  higher  percentage  of  their  rated  capacity  than 
the  independent  refiners,  as  tliey  refined  43.8  per  cent  of  the  total  crude  petroleum 
consumed  by  all  refineries.  The  large  independent  refining  companies  reporting  had 
a  refining  capacity  of  43.3  per  cent  and  consumed  41.1  per  cent  of  the  crude  consumed. 

"The  proportion  of  gasoline  and  naphtha  secured  from  the  crude  petroleum  from  the 
principal  oil  fields  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  during  1919  was  much  higher  than 
that  secured  in  California.  Refineries  operating  only  on  Appalachian  crude  show  a 
yield  of  gasoline  and  naphtha  of  27.4  per  cent,  those  refining  Mid-Continent  crude  had 
a  vield  of  27.9  and  those  for  Wyoming  obtained  a  yield  of  22.2,  while  California 
refiners  secured  only  13  per  cent.  Refineries  equipped  with  pressure  stills  secured 
much  higher  yields  of  gasoline  and  naphtha,  those  refining  Mid-Continent  crude 
secured  46  per  cent,  while  from  Wyoming  crude  41  per  cent  was  obtained. 

"The  investments  used  to  show  the  earnings  from  the  petroleum  business  only 
include  the  capital  stock,  surplus,  and  funded  debt,  and  exclude  appreciation,  the 
investments  in  affiliated  and  other  companies,  and  also  Government  and  other  securi- 
ties ;  while  the  earnings  are  those  shown  before  the  deduction  of  interest  on  funded 
debt  or  Federal  taxes  and  exclude  interest  and  dividends  received. 

"On  this  basis  the  82  companies  reporting,  which  produced  62.162,000  barrels, 
showing  an  investment  in  the  crude-petroleum  business  of  $365,847,000  and  earnings 
of  $64,728,000,  or  a  i-eturn  of  17.7  per  cent.  A  further  analysis  of  the  return  from 
the  crude-petroleum  business  for  these  82  companies  by  profit  groups  discloses  the 
fact  that  14  of  them  with  a  production  of  2.6  per  cent  of  the  total  reported  and  an 
investment  of  3.6  per  cent  showed  an  average  loss  of  2.8  per  cent,  while  earnings  of 
over  30  per  cent  are  shown  for  14  companies  having  37.3  per  cent  of  the  production 
with  only  15.1  per  cent  of  the  total  investment.  The  average  rate  of  earnings  for 
these  latter  companies  was  41.2  per  cent,  while  the  total  for  all  groups  was  17.7 
per  cent. 

■  "Of  the  42  crude-petroleum  companies  operating  in  the  Mid-Continent  field,  6 
companies  with  only  seven-tenths  of  1  per  cent  of  the  production  and  1.3  per  cent  of 
the  net  investment  showed  a  loss  of  3.4  per  cent.  A  profit  of  more  than  30  per  cent 
was  shown  by  8  companies  with  a  production  of  28  per  cent  of  those  reporting  for 
this  field  but  with  an  investment  of  only  4.8  per  cent,  the  average  rate  of  earnings 
for  these  8  companies  being  57.3  per  cent.  The  average  rate  of  earnings  for  the  42 
companies  reporting  from  the  Mid-Continent  field  was  17.2  per  cent,  which  is  slightly 
lower  than  the  average  for  all  fields. 

"There  were  138  petroleum-refining  companies  which  submitted  satisfactory 
reports.  The.se  covered  a  total  crude  con.sumption  of  303,321,000  barrels  or  nearly 
84  per  cent  of  the  total  consumption  for  the  entire  country,  as  shown  bv  the  Bureau 
of  Mines.  These  companies  or  affiliated  interests  produced  116,221,000  barrels  of 
crude  petroleum  or  38.3  per  cent  of  their  refinery  consumption.  On  a  total  invest- 
ment of  $2,088,283,000  they  made  a  profit  of  $349,819,000  or  an  average  of  16.8  per 
cent.  The  highest  average  rate  was  27.6  per  cent  for  7  companies  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain    region   with    an   investment   of   $50,887,000. 

"The  average  rate  of  earnings  for  these  138  companies  on  their  Investment  in  the 
domestic  petroleum  business  alone  averaged  20  per  cent  on  an  investment  of 
$1,525,677,000  as  against  16.8  per  cent  on  tlieir  entire  business.  The  refiners  operating 
in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  on  the  same  basis  show  an  average  rate  of  32  per  cent 
on  an  investment  of  $48,040,000.  Twenty-eight  refiners  consuming  3  per  cent  of  the 
crude  and  having  1.9  per  cent  of  the  investment  show  an  average  loss  of  8.5  per  cent. 
Thirty-nine  refiners  with  18.7  per  cent  of  the  total  net  investment  in  the  petroleum 
business  and  consuming  16.2  per  cent  of  the  crude  petroleum  refined  by  the  com- 
panies reporting  earned  less  tlian  10  per  cent,  with  earnings  of  5.9  per  cent.  There 
were  28  companies  that  earned  profits  of  30  per  cent  or  over.  This  group  refined  22.5 
per  cent  of  the  crude  petroleum,  owned  22.2  per  cent  of  the  net  Investment,  and 
showed  an  average  rate  of  earnings  of  34.9  per  cent. 


38  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"When  these  companies  are  grouped  according  to  the  magnitude  of  their  invest- 
ment in  the  domestic  husiness.  5  companies  with  an  investment  of  over  $100,000,000 
each,  or  a  total  of  $722,023,000,  showed  an  average  rate  of  earnings  of  24.6  per  cent, 
while  the  lowest  avertige  rate  of  earnings  is  shown  for  the  31  companies  with  an 
investment  of  between  $1,000,000  and  $5,000,000.  These  companies  have  an  aggregate 
net  investment  of  $65,225,000  and  show  an  average  rate  of  earnings  of  15.4  per  cent. 
More  than  half  of  the  138  companies  from  which  reports  were  obtained  had  an 
investment  of  less  than  $1,000,000  each.  The  aggregate  net  investment  of  these 
companies  was  $27,991,000,  on  which  they  earned  an  average  of  17.3  per  cent. 

"Small  refiners  in  the  Mid-Continent  field  claimed  that  they  were  making  very 
small  profits  during  1919,  particularly  during  the  last  six  months  of  the  year.  The 
reports  submitted  agree  with  their  claim,  as  shown  by  the  results  for  28  refiners  in 
Oklahoma,  which  reported  average  earnings  of  6.3  per  cent  on  the  petroleum  business 
for  tlie  entii'e  year. 

"During  1914  and  the  first  half  of  1915  there  was  an  over  production  of  crude 
petroleum  i"or  the  entire  country,  and  the  prices  for  crude  petroleum  and  refined 
products  were  very  low.  Profits  in  the  producing  branch  of  the  industry  for  1914 
and  1915  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  in  California,  were  probably  low.  Begin- 
ning in  the  litter  part  of  1915  the  prices  of  crude  petroleum  began  to  rise  and  were 
increased  steadily,  except  for  a  decline  for  a  few  months  in  1916,  until  they  were 
staV.nized  by  the  industry  in  cooperation  with  the  Fuel  Administration  in  the  spring 
of  1918.  In  the  latter  part  of  1919  crude  prices  began  to  advance  and  the  maximum 
general  level  was  reached  about  the  first  of  March,  1920.  These  maximum  prices 
were  maintained  until  January,  1921,  from  which  time  to  April  1,  1931,  they  have 
been  reduced  about  50  per  cent.  It  seems  probable  that  the  profits  in  the  crude- 
petroleum  industry  generally  increased  from  1916,  and  that  large  profits  were  the 
rule  in  1919  and  1920. 

"Data  oollectea  by  the  Commission,  some  of  which  have  been  published,  show  that 
for  refiners  generally  throughout  the  entire  country  1914  was  a  year  of  low  profits. 
Tiie  year  1915  was  a  much  more  profitable  one  for"  refiners  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains than  for  those  operating  in  California,  although  as  in  California  the  industry 
was  more  prosperous  from  1916  to  1918.  The  year  1919  was  also  generally  prosper- 
ous for  the  petroleum  industry  of  the  whole  country  except  for  refiners  in  the 
Mid-Continent  field." 

Financial  and  Operating  Conditions  of  California  Oil  Fields,  1920. 

Financial  results  of  the  oil  business  during  1920  are  shown  by  the 
following  tables.  The  outstanding  features  are:  (1)  the  continued 
substantial  increase  of  prices  for  all  grades  over  the  1919  figures;  (2) 
a  decrease  in  all  of  the  fields  except  Ventura  County,  in  the  number  of 
barrels  per  well  per  day  yield;  (3)  an  increase  in  operating  costs  per 
barrel,  except  in  Los  Angeles-Orange  and  Santa  Barbara. 

Operating  cost  per  well  is  not  always  lower  for  the  dividend  compa- 
nies than  others.  Profitable  operations  seem  to  depend  generally  upon 
large  wells,  high-grade  oil,  and  proximity  to  market.  There  is  nothing 
to  indicate  that  unnatural  causes  or  manipulation  have  affected  the 
profits  of  one  producer  against  another.  It  may  be  noted  that  both 
price  and  profits  have  usually  been  greater  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange- 
Ventura  fields  than  in  others,  doubtless  largely  due  to  the  proximity  to 
market  and  higher  grades  of  oil.  Crude  oil  testing  as  high  as  56° 
Baume  is  obtained  from  some  of  the  Ventura  wells. 

In  the  tables  following,  data  for  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties 
are  combined  because  of  the  Whittier-Fullerton  field  which  covers  an 
area  extending  over  both  sides  of  the  county  boundary  line. 


STATISTICS   OF  ANNUAL  PPlODUCTION. 


39 


TABLE   G. 
Capitalization. 


No.  of     ;  Per  cent 

companies  of  total 

con-  product 

sidered*  of  field 


Capital 


Property 


Fresno  County— Coalinga 
fKern  River. 


Kern  County 


Midway 
J  Sunset 

McKittrick, 
I     Lost  Hills, 

[     Belridge 

Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties. 

Santa  Barbara  County 

Ventura  County  


50 
46 
69? 
3U 


23 
80 

17 

19 


23 

27 

31 


43 
22 

2S 


$2,565,236  i  $27,552,881 

3,178,372  i  7.211.257 

{ 6.763,881  49.219,855 

( 3,771.486  6.580,062 


1,461,946 

13.504,780 

1,512,566 

982,964 


11,712,402 

16,456,033 

9,332.825 

7,554,118 


Subtotals 

Miscellaneous  and  marketing  com- 
panies^   


335 
37 


&4 


$38,741,231 
123,445,937 


$135,619,433 
119,639,699 


Totals. 


372      I $162,187,168     $255,259,132 


*See  Table  I,  following. 

'Includes  companies  having  refineries,   and  those  operating  in  several  fields  whose 
data  could  not  be  segregated  as  to  counties  or  fields. 


40 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION, 


41 


-«*<  ift  05  ^  in  c^  w  t- 
lo  CD  oO^  ^_  o_  «  Ci^  -^^ 
trT  CO  to  --^  rn"  cQ  cT  c^ 

i-T       t-C       r^  Co" 


e-s 


S«o  OS  ■>»'  ©1 1-  in  o 
S5co  i-i  t->  IN 


iMinoicooiooco 


^^-^^u';c:^0•**^ 


Sf 


§«  03  CS  M*  00  o  r* 
0>  to  M  00  «5  o  w 

incTirTccodcO'^i-*" 
irt  Q  ^  ?^  cr  CO  o 
o  ©  o_  o  t-  04  c^ 
1-7       CO  r^ 


in  o 


incc 
cico" 

05  -^ 


I  i-i  oa  in  CO  m  cv*  ' 


M  CO  00  53  t^  CO  iH  Oi 

t^coo  «>  oooa      o 

*^       iH  CO 


e^ 


Oe<lM»'<»«'(j(CD05cO 
«  CO  CO  rH  iH  r-* 


•<j»  m5>  o  00  ^  F-t  ^ 

t-^wf  l^t-7  -^  CO  CD  CO 

f-iOO-^C00:CMC^ 


SS3 


OiOtot-  Ift  N 


•  N  CD  'N  t*  t^  ^^  t* 


go  00  If*  ^*  oi  f-f  oi 

pi  r1  00  r-(  e>5  CO  pH  ( 


«  O  M  I-  »»  »  N  • 


«  O  M 

i-c  CJ  c5 


35 1- 


ss 


CO  o^ 
■nTss 


s 


fl^ 


bg 


«°3 


■"^      C*   OS  ^ 


sa 


ba5  >> 


S  E-o  ctg  a  c  s 


P  2    5  , 


p,  a 
So* 


■Hh 


•^cococficoo-^K 

III 

fc    01    <S 

g^dooo  s  oo 

'^ 

O  " 

« 

S 

o 

CD  ^  CO  r-(  C5  -^  CO  W 

e-i  00  o;  in  Ss  ?.  M<  r4 

2-- 

od  co'  i-i  CO  t-^  ar  o>  00 

€«•        IH  rl          ri 

;5 

-    O  X 

•i 

o^s 

1 

a 

^  3   >. 

oineocit-ot-"*      j 

(«     "^             Oi 

OS 

eS    fc*    t-  — 

« 

«ES^- 

1 

be 
C 

i 

00»-*»ftr^CC-1''^'^         1 

^ir;cog.-ioco© 

* 

1 

^ 

2-S 

C^o  d  c  d  cod 

o 

o 

Ig  " 

o 

b. 

o  '^ 

CM 

Ol 

'  "3 

c 

o 

M    .      ^ 

:?SSr:§£SS    ; 

n 

=    S    & 

+• 

■"    G  — 

CO  CO  c  ro  00  ro  m  d      1 

A 

■3^ 

2  ■'^  — 

o 

c 

09 
G 

|"l 

Ol 

E 

c 

o 

** 

^^ 

oqt-;ai©cDooqco 

t» 

< 

«  =     >v 

ccodiiddcewoi 

s. 

r-l          C-l  I-H  r-t  (N  N  0-1 

v 

g  1  "S 

a 

O 

5  1  i  >. 

•o 

c 

A 

rHi'^'^35e-iOi-)»H      1 

t-CO^lOCOi-HCOM 

o  •c  S 

^ 

•*•*  ooin  t*  t^  t*o      1 

JO 

S-3  S 

^tHr-ir-ir-;r-;r-;c«j 

-   O 

Sll 

::i^ 

C 

coii^cp'^'McDmi^ 
oOcoO-rM^tr-o 
■^  -<1<  c»  i-"^  I>  05  in  in 

ll 

•o 

c 

< 

tz 

"C 

** 

ti 

00    1  00  lo  o  o  ei  -* 

X 

.-1      1  O  T  1>  lO  -!•  w 

O) 

CO    1  o  t-  Oi  o  (M  in 

J 

^    1  cvi ,-;  r-;  (m' <n"  e-i 

H. 

QC 

o 

to 

<J 

^  Lo  e-i  -f  CO  00 1~  in 

u 

fcoini~cjcooo.-i 

■^  £ 

-i;  -a;  in  i;  -r  f>  ^  co 

i--r-'f-^*r-if-Hi-Hdr4 

Q. 

S  ^ 

a>                         a   ^ 

V 

£M 

CS) 

^ 

« 

V 

1     ■     I     1           1           1       1 

> 

1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1     ! 

< 

1   1   !   !   i   !   !   1    ' 

j  j  j  i  5)  i  j  j  ' 

!   !   !   IfS   !   1 
1   1   I   1  ~  -i^    1   t    ' 

1     1     1     1  -^  O     1     1 

1    1    1    1  —  a    1    1 
1    1    1     —  o 

3 

1   ;    1   |5"   !    I    1 

o 

!  i  i  i«Si  i  1 

i  i  !2=§§  i 
i  i  \to6  i  j 

1         1         .     «     5     C     «   +J 

«.C       03.=  ties  ^ 
Co— ns^Oojn' 

C)M2a:a»-!x>     , 

si 


■a  «  ^ 

?5  I 

-2  o 

-3  in 

SI  a> 


5        n 


&  a 

«  OS 

03  o 


x:xs 

t£ 

3 

C3 

rJ 

3 

Ch 

o 

> 

^ 

o 

"^ 

>. 

hn 

C3 

OS 

S 

;-:*-■"         cr. 


■r.  *-i  CO      X 


'     «  «;?=  2  3 

£■5  2®  = 

-  c  aS 

4,x:  CO  a 
•5-1  o 

OS'S  *"  M  o 

■3  O  "S  0   >  "3 


;k^  3 
3  <i^ 
2j3 


42 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA, 


Proved  Oil   Land. 

The  area  of  proved  oil  land  increased  about  3  per  cent  during  1920 
to  a  total  of  94,567  acres,  with  Kern,  Orange  and  Ventura  counties  con- 
tributing mainly  to  the  increase.  Estimates  of  the  total  amount  of  oil 
which  can  be  recovered  from  the  land  are  little  better  than  pure  guesses 
but  it  does  seem  probable  that  the  average  acre  will  ultimately  yield 
much  less  than  fifty  thousand  barrels. 


TABLE   J. 

"The  following  table'  gives  the  production  of  oil  and  gas  and  proved  acreage  for 
1920  by  counties  and  also  compares  production  of  1920  with  that  of  twenty  years  ago. 


Production  oil — bbl. 

Proved  land 

(acres), 

1920 

Producing 

1900                     1920 

1920 

547,960          15,375,454 

919,275          50,660,438 

1,722,887          14,026,536 

254,397          15.462.741 

14,232 
59,757 
2,959 
4,666 
9,223 
2,878 

852 

1,409 

Kern           

5,720 

Los   Angeles -^-    —  -        --  - 

1,120 

617 

Santa  Barbara         --       -    -      

183,486 
443,000 

248,945 

5,803,583 
1,989,681 

58,928 

503 

Ventura   

San  Luis  Obispo 1 

Santa  Clara  \- 

San  Mateo J 

466 
28 

Totals. 

4,319,950        103,377.361 

94,567 

9,865 

"In  1900,  California  contributed  about  one-fifteenth  of  the  petroleum  produced  in 
the  United  States  and  about  one-twenty-fifth  of  the  world's  production.  In  1920, 
California  produced  almost  one-fourth  of  the  oil  in  the  United  States  and  one-fifth  of 
the  world  output. 

"Most  of  California's  petroleum  is  produced  in  the  six  counties — Fresno,  Kern, 
Santa  Barbara,  Ventura,  Los  Angeles  and  Orange.  These  have  been  the  principal 
petroleum  producing  counties  of  the  state  for  the  past  twenty  years.  All  of  the 
important  discoveries  of  petroleum  in  California,  from  Kern  River  to  Huntington 
Beach,  have  been  in  one  of  tlie  six  counties  mentioned  above. 

"This  does  not  mean,  however,  that  there  has  not  been  a  considerable  effort  to 
extend  the  limits  of  proved  oil  land.  The  March  (1921)  chapter  of  the  Sixth  Annual 
Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  discusses  prospect  or  wildcat  operations 
in  the  state.  It  contains  a  list  of  all  wildcat  wells,  numbering  over  160,  which  have 
been  started  in  the  state  since  January  1,  1920. 

"The  year  of  1920  was  one  of  marked  activity  in  wildcat  operations.  The 
activity  and  acreage  involved  is  disproportionate  to  the  actual  additional  2775  acres 
proved.  One  hundred  sixty  wildcat  wells  were  started  either  on  privately  owned  or 
leased  land.  Conservatively  this  represented  tests  of  at  least  100,000  acres  of 
privately  owned  land.  One  of  these  wells  discovered  oil  in  the  east  end  of  the  Elk 
Hills,   and  another   at  Huntington   Beach. 

"Following  the  passage  of  the  Federal  land  leasing  act  of  February  25,  1920, 
some  200,000  acres  of  Government  land  have  been  filed  upon  by  200  or  more  permit- 
tees, under  prospecting  permits.  Much  of  the  land  under  prospecting  permit  is 
geologically  unfit  for  the  production  of  oil.  A  few  wells  are  now  being  drilled.  No 
discoveries  have  been  made. 

"In  addition,  applications  have  been  made  for  Federal  leases,  and  some  leases 
granted,  on  about  24,000  acres  in  Fresno  and  Kern  counties.  Approximately  3000 
acres  are  in  Naval  Petroleum  Reserves  No.  1  and  No.  2.  Of  the  area  under  applica- 
tions for  lease  or  leased,  3248  acres  is  classed  by  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor 
as  proved  oil  land.  This  land  represents  holdings  upon  which  producing  wells  were 
already  drilled  and  for  which  applications  for  lease  were  made  to  the  United  States 
Government  during  the  past  year  in  lieu  of  claims  for  patent.  The  leases  will  permit 
the  drilling  of  additional  wells  in  present  producing  fields  but  will  not  open  any  new 
fields. 

•  •*»*** 

"The  revised  Map  No.  15  of  Elk  Hills  oil  field  shows  the  extent  of  drilling  activity 
on  private  and  Federal  leased  lands  during  the  past  year. 

"Boundaries  of  Naval  Petroleum  Reserve  No.  1  are  also  shown  on  the  map.  This 
Reserve  covers  an  area  of  3S.000  acres  and  does  not  include  the  area  at  the  east 
end  of  Elk  Hills  from  which  Pacific  Oil  Company,  Standard  Oil  Company  and  Fan 
Ajnerican    Petroleum    Company    are    now    producing    oil.      The    production    from    this 


^Collom,    R.    E.,    State   Oil   and   Gas    Supervisor;    Weekly   Press   Bulletin,    No.    294. 
June  11,  1921. 


Table   Showing    Operation    of   Proved    Land    (as    Fixed    by   the    Supervis' 


30,    1920   (as  Shown   by   Production   Reports   Filed  by  Operators). 


Standard  Oil 

Soutbern  Padflc      1 
Land  Company       | 

Associated  and 
allied  companies^ 

Union  on 

Shell  Company 

General  Petroleum' 

American  Oilfields 
and  allied  companies^ 

Santa  Fe  Railroad 
and  allied  companies' 

Pan-American 
Petroleum" 

Commonwealth  and 
allied  companlee' 

Honolulu 
Consolidated 

iDterstate- 
Lalceyiew  No.  2 

Ventura  Consolidated 
Oilfields' 

All  other  companies 

Totals 

Pleld 

Acres 

WellB 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

WdlB 

Acres 
wen 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 

per 
wen 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
weU 

Acres 

WeUs 

Acres 
per 
wdl 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
weU 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
well 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
wen 

Acres 

Wells 

Acres 
per 
weU 

Acres 

WeUs 

Acres 
per 
weU 

Acres 

WeOs 

Sam 

Coalinga 

mo 
612 
130 
6,206 
491 

"'l"727" 
141 

,, 

3,760 

437 

180 

13.260 

"""157" 

168 
223 
61 
296 

6" 

22.4 
1.9 
8.5 

1,601 
2,956 
662 
2.696 
38S 
609 

m 

129 
676 
122 
124 

67 
138 

93 

11.8 
4.8 
S.4 

20.9 

63 
4.4 
5.9 

?90 

28 

9.3 

2,873 

289 

10.0 

284 

21 

"""189" 
256 

U.l 

ax 
4.99 

1,165 

99 

11.8 

-IS- 

isi' 

il' 

20" 
809 

-    454- 

933 

-- 
64 

68 

38 

140 

IS 

10.8 

3.181 

3,120 

688 

11,521 

1,985 
396 
860 
789 

1.038 
80 

357 
952 
136 
869 
175 
121 
199 
171 
49 
9 

8.9  ;  13.924 

3.3  ,!     7,034 

4.4  '     1,580 
13.4      15,585 
11.3        4,344 

3.3  1,014 

4.4  6.694 
4.6  ,      2,374 

22.6  :    10,293 
8.9            60 

1,^53 

2,041 

317 

2,388 

579 

286 

813 

498 

399 

9 

ULl 

Li7           3.3 

9  1       14.4 

S59  1       17.3 

66  I        S.9 

m'f""i.i' 

84           2.2 

9.6 

-—9-93 
17.9 

-—269- 
10 

—'453- 

29' 

1 

9S- 

— -s'o- 
10.0 

"iW 

a' 

""kT 

"^. 

U 

McKlttrlck 1 

Mldway-Simset 

Belridge-Lost  HUls 

1.071 
120 

42 

25.5 
10.9 

cniiiti 

I":::;: 

:~:::;; 

1,881 
1,273 

1,350 

80 

0 

141 

87 
26 

27 

15.5 
3.2 
1.3 
5.2 

3,493 



244 
85- 

14.3 

::5; 

14.8 

'""m 

169- 

"'.'.'.'.v. 

si' 

18J 
3.8 

Whlttier-Fullerton 

1,469 
543 

106 
85 
198 

13.7 
8.4 

28.96 

20" 

.. 

--,T 

181 
10 

48 

1 

s.4 
10.0 

8J 
4J 

1,302 

43 

S0.3 

1,099 

59 

19.8 





b::::: 



Sargent  



as 

Totals —    — 

10,017 
10.81 

1,066           9.6 

17,794 
19.38 

738 

24.1 

1 

10,291 
11.18 

1,281  j         8.01 

9,184 
10.01 

470 

19.6 

2,893          289 

10.0 

3,569 
S.88 

514 

6.9 

2,746  '        245 

11.2 

4,043 

464 

8.7 

2,019 
2.20 

182 

11.1 

1.771 

181 

9.8 

2,862 

43 

96.8 

634 

38 

14.8 

560 

;22 

4.6 

23,663 
25.67 

3,021 

7.8      91,792 

8,»!2 

10.9 

Per  cent  Oalilomla 
proved  land 

3.1B 

2.99 

4,40 

.68 

.61 





1 

I 

1 

includes  Amalgamated,  West  Coast,  Casmalia  Syndicate,  Reward.  Recruit,  Pantheon,  Pioneer  Midway,  Arcturus,  Salt  Lake  : 

''Includes  Petroleum  Midway.  Red  Star,  Nlles  Lease,  California  Star,  American  Petroleum  and  Midland  Oilfields, 

'Includes  Western  Union.  United  Western.  Dunlop,  Columbia  and  Eddyatone. 

'Includes  C.  C.  M.  O.  and  Petroleum  Development. 

'Includes  E.  L  Doheny  and  Dolieny-Paclfic  Petroleum  Company. 

-■»__,...__  ^_,_  -r,,,        „._..__,  ^      ..  .-.  .       -         „..  -       ,     g^j  Montebello  Oil. 


nd  Coalinga  Unity. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  '  43 

privately  operated  land  is  an  indicator  of  the  quantity  of  oil  that  may  be  expected 
from  at  least  part  of  the  Naval  Reserve.  In  fact,  the  developments  in  Elk  Hills  of 
the  past  year  have  demonstrated  the  presence  of  a  greater  store  of  oil  than  was 
anticipated  at  the  time  the  Reserve  was  created. 

"Considering  tlie  probable  total  productive  area  of  the  Elk  Hills,  therefore,  and 
regardless  of  the  rather  rapid  decline  of  initial  productions  of  oil  wells  in  that  area, 
the  Elk  Hills  will  continue  to  be  a  large  factor  in  California  oil  production  for  some 
time  to  come."    - 

Oil   Land  Ownership. 

"'Control   of   California   Oil    Lands. 
By  R.  P.  McLaughlin-. 

"The  accompanying  tabulated  statement  shows  the  amount  of  land  operated  by 
each  of  the  several  companies  whose  annual  production  is  in  excess  of  one  million 
barrels.  No  distinction  is  here  made  between  operative  lands  which  are  owned  in 
fee  and  those  which  are  operated  under  lease.  All  lands  designated  by  the  State  Oil 
and  Gas  Supervisor  as  proved  oil  lands  on  March  1,  1920,  are  included  in  the  tabula- 
tion.    The  data  are  segregated  according  to  the  principal  producing  fields. 

"The  number  of  producing  wells  operated  by  each  concern  is  also  shown,  together 
with  the  average  amount  of  land  per  well.  The  number  of  wells  is  obtained  from  the 
monthly  production  reports  for  June,  192  0,  filed  by  operators  with  the  State  Oil  and 
Gas  Supervisor.  Statistics  of  this  sort  can  not  be  made  absolutely  accurate  owing 
to  the  nature  of  the  basic  information.  However,  this  summary  is  believed  to  repre- 
sent conditions  as  closely  as  is  possible.  The  detailed  statistical  work  was  performed 
by  Miss  R.  A.  Wagener. 

"Development  during  the  last  six  years  has  increased  the  acreage  of  proved  oil 
land  by  about  26  per  cent,  from  72,535  acres  to  91,792  acres.  Such  an  increase 
should  serve  as  a  distinct  warning  to  pessimistic  forecasters  who  may  incline  to  the 
belief  that  our  oil  resources  are  now  fully  explored.  It  is  specially  interesting  to 
note  that  all  the  landholders  have  shared  in  the  increase  of  proved  land,  and  that 
monopoly  does  not  exist.  Five  marketing  companies  hold  39  per  cent  of  the  total 
proved  land  and  two  railroad  companies  hold  24  per  cent,  leaving  37  per  cent  dis- 
tributed among  nearly  three  hundred  smaller  operators.  Approximately  the  same 
ratios  existed  six  years  ago. 

"The  extent  to  which  the  various  holdings  have  been  developed  is  roughly  indicated 
by  the  average  amount  of  land  per  well.  It  has  not  yet  been  determined  how  closely 
wells  can  be  economically  drilled  in  California  fields  but  there  are  some  facts  which 
indicate  that  about  five  acres  per  well  is  the  probable  average  minimum.  Therefore 
the  present  proved  lands  of  the  state  may  be  expected  to  eventually  support  almost 
twice  as  many  wells  as  have  already  been  drilled. 

"The  present  area  per  well  is  10.6  acres  as  compared  with  10.3  acres  in  the  year 
1914,  which  indicates  that  about  the  same  margin  of  reserve  or  undeveloped  land 
has  been  maintained. 

"Undoubtedly,  greater  care  must  be  exercised  in  the  use  of  petroleum  than  has 
existed  in  the  past  and  probably  some  branches  of  industry  will  have  to  turn  to  other 
sources  of  power.  However,  the  foregoing  facts  show  that  final  exhaustion  of  our 
oil  resources  is  still  considerably  in  the  future." 

The  Water  Problem   in   the  Oil    Districts. 

^"Production    Statistics  of   California    Oil    Fields. 
By  R.  E.  COLLOM. 

"The  accompanying  statement  gives  the  data  on  production  of  oil  and  water  from 
the  various  oil  fields  of  the  state  for  the  six  months  prior  to  January  1,  1921.  These 
data  are  compiled  by  the  various  field  offices  of  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and 
Gas  and  are  taken  from  monthly  production  reports  submitted  to  the  State  Oil  and 
Gas  Supervisor. 

"The  total  production  of  the  state  for  the  last  six  months  of  1920  was  55,583,247 
barrels  of  oil  and   38,179,469  barrels  of  water,  a  total   of  93,762,716   barrels  of  fluid. 

"The  Kern  River  field  is  the  largest  contributor  to  the  water  production  of  the 
state.  The  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas  has  already  given  considerable  atten- 
tion to  water  conditions  in  Kern  River  field.  Recent  investigations  indicate  that  the 
Kern  river  is  the  .source  of  a  large  quantity  of  the  water  production  of  the  field. 

"A  considerable  part  of  the  operator's  lifting  costs  in  various  fields  is  attributable 
to  the  water  produced.  Water  causes  higher  production  costs  because  of  greater 
wear  on  pumping  equipment.  Much  of  the  water  is  held  in  suspension  or  in  the  form 
of  emulsion,  after  it  leaves  the  lead  line.  The  fluid  must,  therefore,  be  treated 
before  it  is  accepted  by  the  gathering  stations  of  marketing  companies.  There  is  a 
wide  variation  in  costs  of  treating.  Oils  containing  only  water  in  su.spension  can  be 
treated  by  heating  with  steam  coils  or  other  simple  devices.  Emulsifled  oils  are 
more  refractory  and  can  only  be  treated  successfully  by  running  them  through 
special  dehydration  plants. 

"There  is  no  segregation  made,  in  the  statement  of  production,  as  between  free 
water  and  water   in   the   form   of   emulsion.      The  emulsion   factor   is   a  variable   one. 


^State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  Sixth  Annual  Report,  Montlily  Chapter,  October,  1920. 
-State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,   Sixth  Annual  Report,   Monthly  Chapter,   February, 
1921,  pp.  10-11. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  43 

privately  operated  land  is  an  indicator  of  the  quantity  of  oil  that  may  be  expected 
from  at  least  part  of  the  Naval  Reserve.  In  fact,  the  developments  in  Elk  Hills  of 
the  past  year  have  demonstrated  the  presence  of  a  greater  store  of  oil  than  was 
anticipated  at  the  time  the  Reserve  was  created. 

"Considering  the  probable  total  productive  area  of  the  Elk  Hills,  therefore,  and 
regardless  of  the  rather  rapid  decline  of  initial  productions  of  oil  wells  in  that  area, 
the  Elk  Hills  will  continue  to  be  a  large  factor  in  California  oil  production  for  some 
time  to  come." 

Oil   Land  Ownership. 

'"Control    of  California   Oil    Lands. 

By  R.  P.  McLaughlin. 
•  ♦»•••• 

"The  accompanying  tabulated  statement  shows  the  amount  of  land  operated  by 
each  of  the  several  companies  whose  annual  production  is  in  excess  of  one  million 
barrels.  No  distinction  is  here  made  between  operative  lands  which  are  owned  in 
fee  and  those  which  are  operated  under  lease.  All  lands  designated  by  the  State  Oil 
and  Gas  Supervisor  as  proved  oil  lands  on  March  1,  1920,  are  included  in  the  tabula- 
tion.    The  data  are  segregated  according  to  the  principal  producing  fields. 

"The  number  of  producing  wells  operated  by  each  concern  is  also  shown,  together 
with  the  average  amount  of  land  per  well.  The  number  of  wells  is  obtained  from  the 
monthly  production  reports  for  June,  1920,  filed  by  operators  with  the  State  Oil  and 
Gas  Supervisor.  Statistics  of  this  sort  can  not  be  made  absolutely  accurate  owing 
to  the  nature  of  the  basic  information.  However,  this  summary  is  believed  to  repre- 
sent conditions  as  closely  as  is  possible.  The  detailed  statistical  work  was  performed 
by  Miss  R.  A.  Wagener. 

"Development  during  the  last  six  years  has  increased  the  acreage  of  proved  oil 
land  by  about  26  per  cent,  from  72,535  acres  to  91,792  acres.  Such  an  increase 
should  serve  as  a  distinct  warning  to  pessimistic  forecasters  who  may  incline  to  the 
belief  that  our  oil  resources  are  now  fully  explored.  It  is  specially  interesting  to 
note  that  all  the  landholders  have  shared  in  the  increase  of  proved  land,  and  that 
monopoly  does  not  exist.  Five  marketing  companies  hold  39  per  cent  of  the  total 
proved  land  and  two  railroad  companies  hold  24  per  cent,  leaving  37  per  cent  dis- 
tributed among  nearly  three  hundred  smaller  operators.  Approximately  the  same 
ratios  existed  six  years  ago. 

"The  extent  to  which  the  various  holdings  have  been  developed  is  roughly  indicated 
by  the  average  amount  of  land  per  well.  It  has  not  yet  been  determined  how  closely 
wells  can  be  economically  drilled  in  California  fields  but  there  are  some  facts  which 
indicate  that  about  five  acres  per  well  is  the  probable  average  minimum.  Therefore 
the  present  proved  lands  of  the  state  may  be  expected  to  eventually  support  almost 
twice  as  many  wells  as  have  already  been  drilled. 

"The  present  area  per  well  is  10.6  acres  as  compared  with  10.3  acres  in  the  year 
1914.  which  indicates  that  about  the  same  margin  of  reserve  or  undeveloped  land 
has  been  maintained. 

"Undoubtedly,  greater  care  must  be  exercised  in  the  use  of  petroleum  than  has 
existed  in  the  past  and  probably  some  branches  of  industry  will  have  to  turn  to  other 
sources  of  power.  However,  the  foregoing  facts  show  that  final  exhaustion  of  our 
oil  resources  is  still  considerably  in  the  future." 

The  Water  Problem    in  the  Oil    Districts. 

-"Production    Statistics   of   California    Oil    Fields. 

By  R.  B.  COLLOM. 

'  "The  accompanjing  statement  gives  the  data  on  production  of  oil  and  water  from 
the  various  oil  fields  of  the  state  for  the  six  months  prior  to  January  1,  1921.  These 
data  are  compiled  by  the  various  field  offices  of  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and 
Gas  and  are  taken  from  monthly  production  reports  submitted  to  the  State  Oil  and 
Gas  Supervisor. 

"The  total  production  of  the  state  for  the  last  six  months  of  1920  was  55,583,247 
barrels  of  oil  and  38,179,469  barrels  of  water,  a  total   of  93,762,716  barrels  of  fluid. 

"The  Kern  River  field  is  the  largest  contributor  to  the  water  production  of  the 
state.  The  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas  has  already  given  considerable  atten- 
tion to  water  conditions  in  Kern  River  field.  Recent  investigations  indicate  that  the 
Kern  river  is  the  source  of  a  large  quantity  of  the  water  production  of  the  field. 

"A  considerable  part  of  the  operator's  lifting  costs  in  various  fields  is  attributable 
to  the  water  produced.  Water  causes  higher  production  costs  because  of  greater 
wear  on  pumping  equipment.  Much  of  the  water  is  lield  in  suspension  or  in  the  form 
of  emulsion,  after  it  leaves  the  lead  line.  The  fluid  must,  therefore,  be  treated 
before  it  is  accepted  by  the  gathering  stations  of  marketing  companies.  There  is  a 
wide  variation  in  costs  of  treating.  Oils  containing  only  water  in  suspension  can  be 
treated  by  heating  with  steam  colls  or  other  simple  devices.  Emulsified  oils  are 
more  refractory  and  can  only  be  treated  successfully  by  running  them  through 
special  dehydration  plants. 

"There  is  no  segregation  made,  in  the  statement  of  production,  as  between  free 
water  and  water   in   the   form  of  emulsion.     The  emulsion   factor   is   a   variable   one, 


'State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  Sixth  Annual  Report,  Montldy  Chapter,  October,  1920. 
-State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,   Sixth  Annual   Report,   Monthly  Chapter,   February, 
1921,  pp.  10-11. 


44 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


£^ 


Jt^  -^  Cl  C   O  O  C^l   OS  t--;  CiG   -t 

(>i  c>  c^  cm'  oj  <>i  '-'*  <»  o  ji  '^' 

Oi  00  Ci  c/;  Oj  -^  00  CO  "^  CO  5i 


o  o  o  o  q  o  o  o  o 
fM*  i'i  t-^  ^  ^  ^  ^  tS  Jt^ 

Oi   CfiOSOiOOOSOSClco 


CO  CO  a>  CO  i>  t^  c^"  iri  ^(5  -^  rn 


q  q  q  O 

Q   CO  o  lO 


q  q  q  q  q  q  q  q 
o  o  GO  ':o  00  jj  i>  CO 

osoocooosoJi-^os 


in  lA  iH  ic  00 

03   QOX  5^  S 


ioqi>qooqrHc^oicoci 
rH  1-3  oi  -rf*  M  c-i  t'^  '^  CO  lo  CO 

COOOClTOSlOfNOiOiir^  wJ 


J  00  O  I>  (M  in  05 


q      q  q  q  q  q  q  q  q 

-1^         «JQ0:?;iOOi:COC5 


C0  10  00(Mi-JOCNq(>JG^I-- 
lO  O  '•i  r-^'  OS  03  i-I  CO  W  Ifi  O 


q  ifl  q  J>;  q  CO 

O  OS  00  O  T]i  O 


rH         t^  (N  ' 


lOQOqoqq^q? 

rH  ''JH    i-H  -t  i-l    in  < 


M  JT^  i-<  in  CO  CO  q  t>  q 


in  CO  to  in 


CO  O  M  W  rH 


'«tt*CD  (MJ>OOOOOCOrHCO 
Ml  O  Id  rH  OS  (M  O  OS  C-l  00  00 
COC^OO  rHJt^OOinoO  (M-Hr-l 
1<  ^  £^  CO  i-H  r^i'  W  tC  C^l 


rir-tOI^-OCOCO^ 

cs  OS  c-i  tH  CO  *>!  in  tn  ■: 
cc  00  Jt^  00  ■i3^  00  q_  CO 
00  (>!  CO  CO  co"  cT  co"ir^ 


'  M  rH         i-t 


^t*  H  "^  O  O 
(M  S  ■^^  -»<  OS 
in  <>1   M  rH  J>- 

co  in  CO  CO  GO 
rH       in  OS  in 


GO  CO  CO  CM  OS  ■: 


>  <M  J>  (M  X>  OS 

>  fM  (M  CO  t^  ^ 


1  t-  00  H  O 


m  )n  o  iM  p  i-H  CO  ■'t'  < 
O050coi5icoi>--n*c 

OrHt—  int-lMOOOSl 


■  C^  CO  4^  ■ 


O-^OMOt-GO'^ 

cot-'^coOjC^I:©'^ 

OOCOCOOSOiOSrHrH 
r>T  tC  rn"  OS   00  O"  rH 

C/D  O  t*  -J  C^  rH  00 


oi  -^  in  ■*  OS 
CO  CO  ;^  f^  OS 
in  w  to  CO  in 
in"  -^  in'  co"  oT 

CO  t~-  -rf  (^  c^ 

q_  q_  H^  O  & 
CO  CO  »n  -^t^ 

C<1  IH 


-MinCOCOOSCOCOOS-t^T-'-t* 
m  t-  CO  O  C-l  CO  -M  -M  CO  CC  '^ 

m  m  CO  t--  CO  o  o  i^  i-^  CO  rH 
in  CO       co'  CD  (M*  t-T  irf  of  -m" 

-p-^        mr-oocoo         I© 

C-   CO  m  ^  CO   rH  rl 


3  CO  -1*  C'  OS  Ol  f- 1* 

;  m  <M  jn  o-.^  -rh  r-  rn 


53  00  a>  00 


O        1-1  e^  i—  1-- 


-^      r-i  CO  ^^l 


1-      cs  <o  o  c> 


<-<   CC   X   rH  'ft* 


O  J:- 

-.    -J   rH  'ft* 
C-1  rH  t^  Jt^  "^ 


Oir-i-^rfoOirH-t^CH 
COOt'O'M'M'rt^OOCO 
-r  m  CC  lO  •^  rH  CO  <0  VO 
rH  O  rH  1^  /-^  lO  irT  HP 


C    CO  O  -f  1 


CO   <r  »c  -t*  iH  CO  ift  00  (M  i-H 

-t*    iv-  1-*  CO  (N  CM  <D  rH  ■'tl 


rH  O;(M0Dinj-H(N00O-l 

-F  0DC0rH30i>-OC0C0 

CO  i-H  CI  O  O  O;  *0  rH  r^^ 

-"'  CO  rH  o'  CO  cT  O         O 

CO  rH-fC-lfrHrH  CO 


CO  -^   rH  CO  CO 

c-1 1-  '-'  £.'  <» 

CI  C^CO^O  in 
IP  CC  rH  Cf  CO 


t~  CI  C  !■-  J>.  ft  (N  O 


!  o  K  s  r"  d-^  J 
J  O  W  fi|  IS  S  a:  ;< 


'  CO  c 


I  B  fc  a 


O  <S 


HhS 


^  „ a;  >-  -«  -  •'^  P 

^aiPHWsCxx'>00 

a 


CC!«   >■ 
^  •?  ~  1^   S   o 
«        ^   -  r"  2 

^i  c3  a  03  o 
.s  O  «  O  h^ 
Q 


(i«  a 


o  w  [s 


o  ta) 

:3s 

an 

Wo  o  S 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  45 

mul  the  amounts  are  ditflcult  to  seKnyatc.  All  t  nuilsifieil  oil  Is  not  formed  in  ;u 
manner  beyond  the  operator's  control.  KoiiKiily  it  may  V>e  considered  that  emulsion 
is  formed  by  physical  reactions  between  <jil,  gas  and  water,  as  (1)  the  fluids  move 
through  the  sand  and  perforations  in  the  oil-string,  or  (2)  through  improperly 
adjusted  or  worn-out  working  barrel  assembly,  or  (3)  by  atomizatlon,  as  the  oil,  gas 
and  water  mixture  expands  upon  leaving  the  lead  line. 

"The  second  and  third  factors  are  controllable.  Careful  attention  to  pumping 
equipment  and  method  of  handling  the  oil,  as  it  comes  from  the  wells,  will  reduce 
treating  charges.  It  should  also  raise  the  percentage  of  time  a  well  produces.  It  is 
well  known  that  water  causes  greater  wear  on  pumping  equipment  and  rods  than  oil. 
Interruptions  of  production  are  mostly  chargeable  to  sand  troubles,  parted  rods  and 
worn  pumping  equipment. 

"The  percentage  of  time  wells  produced,  shown  in  the  last  column  of  the  table,  is  a 
good  index  to  the  relative  difficulties  attendant  upon  producing  operations  in  the 
various  fields." 

Permanency   of  Oil    Supply. 

As  to  the  iiltiiuato  yield  of  the  world's  oil  fields,  and  the  eomparative 
eosts  of  coal  and  oil  for  power,  a  recent  consular  report'  contains  some 
interesting  data,  of  which  tiic  followin<i:  is  a  portion  : 

"The  World's  Resources  of  Coal. 

"To  forecast  with  any  degree  of  accuracy  the  future  of  oil  fuel  for  industrial 
purposes  in  Great  Britain  it  is  necessary  to  consider  the  relative  world  supplies  of 
coal  and  oil,  their  relative  economy  in  practice,  and  their  relative  efficiency.  In  nor- 
mal times  the  world's  approximate  consumption  of  coal  amounts  to  1,200,000,000  tons, 
of  which  total  Great  Britain  normally  produces  about  275,000,000  tons.  The  normal 
domestic  and  industrial  consumption  of  coal  per  year  in  Great  Britain  is  190,000,000 
tons ;   the  rest  of  Great  Britain's  production   is  exported. 

"On  the  basis  of  expert  figures  that  4\  barrels  of  oil  fuel  are  equal  to  1  ton  of 
coal,  the  world  must  produce  5.100,000,000  barrels  of  oil  per  year  in  order  to  replace 
coal  fuel  with  oil  throughout  the  world.  The  present  production  of  oil  in  the  world 
is  only  550,000,000  barrels.  So  that  tlie  world's  present  output  of  oil  is  only  suffi- 
cient to  replace  about  11  per  cent  of  the  coal.  In  other  words,  if  all  the  oil  produced 
in  the  world  were  shipped  to  Great  Britain,  it  would  be  insufficient  to  replace  the 
coal  consumed  in  Great  Britain  for  domestic  and  industrial  purposes. 

"British   Coal  Supplies — Expansion  in   Use  of  Oil. 

"It  has  been  estimated  tliat  the  known  available  coal  fields  of  the  world  insure 
an  adequate  supply  of  the  normal  needs  of  the  world  for  the  next  4000  years.  This, 
of  course,  does  not  take  into  consideration  the  possibilities  of  the  discovery  of  vast 
new  fields  which  undoubtedly  exist.  While  Great  Britain's  visible  coal  resources  con- 
stitute only  approximately  3J  per  cent  of  the  total  coal  resources  of  the  world,  it  is 
estimated  that  with  proper  care  and  economy  in  working,  Great  Britain's  coal 
should  be  sufficient  for  its  requirements  for  the  next  500  years. 

"As  for  oil,  there  is  absolutely  no  certainty  as  to  available  supplies.  Undoubtedly 
large  reservoirs  of  oil  exist  in  the  world  which  liave  not  yet  been  discovered.  But  ro 
estimate  can  be  made  in  any  field  as  to  the  period  of  exliaustion  for  that  field. 
Already  the  navies  of  the  world  go  far  toward  consuming  at  least  a  third  of  the  oil 
produced  in  the  world.  In  addition  to  this  the  conversion  and  the  construction  of 
oil-burning  ships  in  the  mercantile  marines  of  the  various  maritime  nations  has  led 
to  a  further  consumption  of  oil  as  fuel.  Thus  the  expansion  in  the  use  of  fuel  oil 
is  bidding  fair  to  rapidly  outstrip  its  present  production. 

"Relative   Efficiency  of  the   Two   Fuels. 

"Turning  from  oil  to  coal,  an  average  ton  of  British  coal  is  supposed  to  have 
heating  value  of  12,000  British  thermal  units  per  pound,  and  the  average  price  may 
be  taken  as  £2  per  ton.  Basing  the  price  of  oil  at  £6  per  ton  and  the  heating  value 
of  oil  at  18,000  B.  t.  u.  per  pound,  we  find  that  oil  as  fuel  costs  twice  as  much  as  coal. 

"Mr.  Davis  Brownlie,  in  a  recent  computation  of  the  relative  efficiency  of  coal  and 
oil  as  fuel,  takes  as  a  reasonable  and  fair  comparison  under  moderately  good  atten- 
tion 80  per  cent  efficiency  for  oil  and  72J  per  cent  efficiency  for  coal.  This  gives  1 
ton  of  oil  at  18,000  B.  t.  u.  and  80  per  cent  efficiency  costing  6.  as  against  1  ton  of 
coal  at  12,000  B.  t.  u.  and  72J  per  cent  efficiency  costing  2   per  ton. 

"Mr.  Brownlie's  elementary  deductions  are,  therefore,  that  1  ton  of  oil  is  equal  in 
net  heating  value  to  1.65  tons  of  coal,  and  to  produce  the  same  amount  of  steam  as 
from  1  ton  of  oil  at  6  it  would  cost  3.30  if  coal  were  used.  In  other  words,  if  a 
manufacturer  were  spending  10,000  a  year  on  coal  for  his  boiler  plant,  oil  would  cost 
him  18,000  a  year.  Therefore,  for  most  boiler  plants  the  only  result  of  oil  firing 
would  be  a  heavy  loss. 

'Page.  Wilbur  J..  U.  S.  Trade  Comm.,  London,  England  :  The  future  of  oil  as  fuel  in 
Great  Britain,  V.  S.  Commerce  Reports,  No.  156,  p.  107,  July  7,  1921. 


46  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"Hydroelectric   Power   the    Development   of  the    Future. 

"In  view  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  world's  future  supply  of  oil  and  the  great 
question  as  to  whether,  granting  all  the  possible  advantages  in  the  use  of  oil  as  a  fuel, 
in  most  cases  real  practical  economy  can  be  effected,  there  is  room  for  doubt  that 
the  boom  in  the  use  of  oil  as  fuel  will  reach  the  proportions  during  future  generations 
sometimes  predicted  for  it.  Unquestionably  the  world  has  squandered  its  coal 
resources  in  the  past,  and  this  waste  is  still  continuing.  It  is  estimated  that  in  Great 
Britain  alone  the  domestic  and  industrial  consumption  of  coal  could  be  reduced  at 
least  50,000,000  tons  per  year  by  adopting  more  economical  methods.  This  saving 
would  represent  200,000,000  barrels  of  oil  per  year,  an  amount  equal  to  the  oil  pro- 
duction of  all  the  countries  of  the  world,  excluding  the  United  States. 

"In  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  foremost  students  of  the  subject,  the  future  power 
supply  of  the  world  depends  not  on  oil  but  on  water,  and  the  outstanding  develop- 
ment of  power  supply  will  take  the  form  of  utilization  of  rivers,  streams,  and, 
possibly,  the  ocean  tides." 

So  far  as  the  Pacific  Coast  of  the  United  States  is  concerned,  it  should 
be  noted  that  oil  is  still  cheaper  than  coal,  which  sells  for  about  $8.00  per 
ton  on  Puget  Sound,  Washington,  as  against  $6.47  for  an  equivalent 
amount  of  oil  (3 J  barrels)  at  the  same  point  of  delivery. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  47 

CHAPTER   THREE. 

METALS. 

The  total  value  of  metals  produced  in  California  during  1920  was 
$19,989,487.  The  chief  of  these  is,  and  always  has  been,  gold,  followed 
in  order  in  1920  by  silver,  quicksilver,  lead,  zinc,  platinum,  manganese, 
and  iron.  Deposits  of  ores  of  nickel  and  vanadium  have  also  been  found 
in  tlie  state,  although  there  lias  as  3'et  been  no  commercial  output  of 
them.  There  was  no  production  of  antimony,  cadmium,  molybdenum, 
nor  tungsten  in  1920.  The  above  total  value  is  a  net  decrease  of  $4,487,- 
7:?4  from  the  1919  total  of  $24,477,221.  This  was  due  mainly  to  the 
marked  drop  in  gold,  copper,  and  quicksilver.  Silver,  lead,  iron,  and 
platinum  showed  increases  in  the  order  named. 

California  leads  all  states  in  the  Union  in  her  gold  production,  and 
the  precious  metal  is  widely  distributed  throughout  the  state.  Twenty- 
nine  of  the  fifty-eight  counties  reported  an  output  in  1919  from  either 
mines  or  dredges. 

Copper,  which  is  second  in  importance  among  the  metals  of  the  state, 
occurs  in  the  following  general  districts :  the  Shasta  County  belt,  which 
is  by  far  the  most  important ;  the  Coast  Kange  deposits,  extending  more 
or  less  continuously  from  Del  Norte  in  the  north  to  San  Luis  Obispo 
County  in  the  south ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  foothill  belt,  starting  in  Plumas 
and  running  in  a  general  southerly  and  southeasterly  direction  through 
the  Mother  Lode  counties  and  ending  in  Kern ;  the  eastern  belt  in  Mono 
and  Inyo  counties;  and  the  southern  belt,  in  San  Bernardino,  Riverside, 
and  San  Diego  counties. 

Silver  is  not  generally  found  alone  in  the  state,  but  is  associated  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  with  gold,  copper,  lead,  and  zinc. 

Quicksilver  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  state's  staple  products 
and  California  supplies  approximately  75%  of  the  nation's  output  of 
this  metal. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  but  few  other  localities  of  importance  in  the 
United  States. 

Large  deposits  of  iron  ore  have  long  been  known  in  several  sections 
of  the  state,  but  for  various  economic  reasons  this  branch  of  the  mineral 
industry  thus  far  has  made  only  slight  progress  here. 


48 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


A  comparison  of  the  1!I2()  metal  output  witli  that  of  11)19  is  afforded 
by  the  following  table : 


Metal 

1919 

1920 

Decrease- 
Increase  + 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Value 

Copper  

Oold    

22,162,605  lbs. 

$4,122,246 

16,695,955 

13,796 

219,.397 

451,422 

00,611 

1,3.53,381 

1,240,051 

219  316 

101,046 

12,947,299  lbs. 

$2,382,303 
14,311,043 

40,889 
392,31)0 
62,323 
6-<,977 
775,527 
1,859,896 

$1,739,943— 

2,384,912— 

27,093+ 

179,903+ 

Iron  ore    ..-  _  - 

2,300  tons 
■1,139,562  lbs. 
ll,5fi>  tons 

418  fine  oz. 
15,200  flasks 

5,975  tons 
4,903,7:38  lbs. 
2,892  tons 

477  fine  oz. 
10,278  flasks 

Lead      .  _. 

Manganese  ore 

Platinum  _  .  . - 

389,099— 

H  :•«  6+ 

Quicksilver        

577,854— 

Silver 

619,845+ 

Tungsten    concentrates- - 

214  tons 
1,381,192  lbs. 

219,316— 

Zinc  .           - 

l,lS8,00y  lbs. 

96,229 

4,817 — 

Totals        

$24,477,221 

$19,989,487 

Net  decrease  _.    .. 

$4,487,734— 

ALUMINUM. 

Bibliography :  Bulletins  38,  67. 

No  workable  deposits  of  bauxite  have  as  3'et  been  discovered  in  the 
state,  although  from  time  to  time  small  quantities  of  the  impure 
material  have  been  the  foundation  of  extravagant  reports  regarding 
such  discoveries. 

]\Iinerals  containing  aluminum  are  abundant,  the  most  widely  dis- 
tributed being  the  clays.  There  are  only  two,  however,  thus  far  of 
consequence,  commercially,  in  the  production  of  the  metal :  bauxite  (to 
which  may  be  added  the  related,  hydrated  oxides,  hydrargillite  and 
diaspore),  and  cryolite.  Cryolite  is  found  in  commercial  quantities 
only  in  South  Greenland,  and  was  formerly  the  only  ore  of  aluminum 
used,  being  still  employed  as  a  flux  in  the  extraction  of  the  metal. 
Bauxite  has  been,  for  some  years,  the  most  important  source  of  alumi- 
num and  its  salts.  Its  color  varies  from  gray  to  red,  according  to  the 
amount  of  iron  present,  the  composition  ranging  usually  between  the 
following  limits:  ALO3,  30%-60% ;  Fe^Oa,  3%-25%  ;  SiO,,  0.5%-2O%  ; 
TiOo,  0.0%-10%.  Besides  its  reduction  to  the  metal,  bauxite  is  also 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of:  aluminum  salts,  refractory  brick? 
alundum  (fused  alumina)  for  use  as  an  abrasive;  and  in  the  refining 
of  oil  (stated  to  be  of  growing  importance).  The  most  important  pro- 
ducing countries,  both  of  bauxite  and  the  metal,  are  the  United  States 
and  France,  the  former  yielding  more  than  60  per  cent  of  the  world's 
output.    In  1913  France  led. 

Because  of  its  light  weight  (2.58  specific  gravity),  the  metal,  alumi- 
num, has  many  important  industrial  uses,  particularly  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  aeroplanes,  airships,  automobiles,  cooking  utensils,  and  elec- 
trical apparatus.     The  use  of  aluminum  dust  in  place  of  zinc  dust  for 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


49 


precipitating  precious  metal  from  cyanide  .solutions  is  increasing.  In 
the  Thermit  process  of  welding  and  casting,  aluminum  in  fine  grains  or 
filings  is  mixed  with  the  oxide  (usually  iron  oxide)  to  be  reduced. 


ANTIMONY. 

Bibliography:  State  jNlineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38. 

Antimony  is  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places  in  California, 
having  been  reported  from  Kern,  Inyo,  Nevada,  Rivereide,  San  Benito, 
and  Santa  Clara  counties.  The  Kern  County  deposits,  some  of  which 
carry  the  native  metal,  are  possibly  the  best  known,  and  efforts  Avere 
made  to  work  some  of  them  before  California  was  a  part  of  the  United 
States.  The  commonest  occurrence  is  in  the  form  of  the  sulphide, 
stibnite.  No  continuous  production,  however,  has  been  maintained,  the 
output  for  1915  to  1917  inclusive,  being  the  first  reported  since  1901. 
There  has  been  none  produced  since  1917. 

Pure  antimony  metal,  and  manufactured  antimony  compounds  are  of 
considerable  importance  as  pigments  in  the  ceramic  industry.  The 
most  important  use  of  the  metal,  commercially,  is  in  various  alloys, 
particularly  type-metal  (with  tin  and  lead),  babbitt  (with  tin  and 
copper),  and  Britannia  metal  (with  tin  and  copper). 

From  the  low  point  of  5.44^-  to  7.11^  per  pound,  according  to  brand, 
in  July,  1914,  the  price  of  antimony  rose  gradually,  though  not  steadily, 
to  44^  by  the  middle  of  January,  1916.  American  antimony,  for  the 
first  time  in  many  years,  appeared  on  the  market  in  competition  with 
the  Chinese  and  Japanese  product.  From  $1  to  $2.25  per  unit  was 
paid  for  ore,  and  at  first  a  minimum  of  50%  accepted;  but,  later,  some 
lower  grade  ore  was  smelted.  The  price  remained  at  44^  (San  Fran- 
cisco quotations)  until  the  middle  of  April,  1916,  then  declined  quite 
rapidly  to  10^  in  August.  It  varied  around  10^  to  14^  during  most 
of  1917  and  1918.  With  the  price  below  12^  per  pound  for  the  metal, 
few  if  any  of  the  California  mines  can  operate  profitably.  New  York 
prices  during  1920  averaged  8.5^  per  pound. 

The  production  of  antimony  by  years  since  1887  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1887                       

75 
100 
50 
150 
33 
17 
20 
40 
75 

$15,500 
20,000 
2,250 
6,000 
1,485 
2,320 
3,500 
1,200 
13,500 

1900    

70 

50 

510 

1,015 

158 

$5,700 

1888 

1901 

8,350 

1893 

1915 

35,666 

1894       .                   -      - 

1916 

64,793 

1895 

1917 

18.786 

1896 

1918 

1897 

1898 

1899    .—  .             .      - 

Totals 

2,363 

$199,050 

4—12865 

50  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ARSENIC. 

Bibliography:  Bulletin  67.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 

Arsenic  occurs  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California  in  the  mineral, 
arsena-p3'rite,  which  is  frequently  gold  bearing.  To  date,  there  has 
been  no  commercial  output  of  arsenic  from  California  ores.  The 
principal  source  of  the  arsenic  of  commerce  in  the  United  States  has 
been  as  a  by-product  from  the  metallurgical  treatment  of  copper,  gold, 
and  lead  ores.  It  is  usually  recovered  in  the  form  of  the  tri-oxide,  or 
'white  arsenic' 

BISMUTH. 

Bibliography :  Bulletins  38,  67.     Am.  Jour.  Sci.  1903,  Vol.  16. 

Several  bismuth  minerals  have  been  found  in  California,  notably 
native  bismuth  and  bismite  (the  ochre)  in  the  tourmaline  gem  district 
in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties  near  Pala.  Other  occurrences  of 
bismuth  minerals,  including  the  sulphide,  bismuthinite,  have  been  noted 
in  Inyo,  Fresno,  Nevada,  Tuolumne,  and  Mono  counties,  but  only  in 
small  quantities.  The  only  commercial  production  recorded  was  20 
tons  valued  at  $2,400,  in  1904,  and  credited  to  Riverside  County. 

In  1917,  a  few  pounds  of  bismuthinite  (BigSg)  with  associated  bis- 
mutite  (Bi2C0.,.IT20),  was  taken  out  at  the  United  Tungsten  Copper 
mine,  in  the  Morongo  district,  San  Bernardino  County.  It  is  associated 
with  scheelite  in  a  contact  deposit  between  limestone  and  granite. 

Recovery  of  bismuth  from  blister  copper  in  the  electrolytic  refinery 
has  been  noted,^  ranging  as  high  as  27.3  pounds  of  metallic  bismuth 
per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  from  the  Iron  Mountain,  Shasta  County, 
ores.  In  the  United  States,  the  principal  recovery  of  bismuth  is 
obtained  from  the  refining  of  lead  bullion. 

The  uses  of  bismuth  are  somewhat  restricted,  being  employed  princi- 
pally in  the  preparation  of  medicinal  salts,  and  in  low  melting-point 
or  cliche  alloys.  These  alloys  are  utilized  in  automatic  fire  sprinkler 
systems,  in  electrical  fuses,  and  in  solders. 

The  market  value  of  bismuth  metal  produced  in  the  United  States 
in  1920  averaged  $2.22  per  pound. 

CADMIUM. 

Bibliography :  U.  S.  G.  S.  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1908,  1918. 

In  1917  and  in  1918,  several  thousand  pounds  of  cadmium  metal,  in 
sticks,  was  recovered  by  the  electrolytic  zinc  plant  of  the  Mammoth 
Copper  Company  in  Shasta  County.     The  1917  output  was  the  first 


^Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Vol.  47,  pp.  217-218. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  51 

commercial  production  of  this  metal  recorded  in  California.  As  there 
was  only  the  one  producer,  the  exact  figures  and  value  were  concealed 
under  the  'unapportioned'  item. 

The  cadmium  there  occurs  associated  with  zinc  sulphide,  sphalerite, 
probably  as  the  sulphide,  greenockite.  There  are  several  cadmium 
minerals,  but  none  of  them  occur  in  sufficient  quantities  individually 
to  be  profitable  as  distinct  ores.  The  cadmium  of  commerce  is  derived 
as  a  by-product  in  the  reduction  of  zinc  minerals  and  ores,  in  nearly 
all  of  which  it  occurs  in  at  least  minute  proportions,  the  average  ratio 
being  about  1  of  cadmium  to  200  of  zinc.  As  cadmium  behaves 
raetallurgically  much  the  same  as  zinc,  it  constitutes  a  fraction  of  1 
per  cent  of  nearly  all  metallic  zinc. 

Cadmium  is  produced  in  the  United  States  in  two  forms — metallic 
cadmium  and  the  pigment,  cadmium  sulphide.  The  principal  use  of 
the  metal  is  in  low-melting  point,  or  cliche  alloys,  and  its  salts  are 
utilized  in  the  arts,  medicine,  and  in  electroplating.  The  sulphide  is 
employed  as  a  paint  pigment,  being  a  strong  yellow.  Cadmium  cliche 
metal  is  stated  to  be  superior  to  the  corresponding  bismuth  alloy,  for 
making  stereotype  plates.  Cadmium  is  also  used  in  bronze  telegraph 
and  telephone  wires. 

In  the  last  year  of  the  war  (1918),  the  United  States  Government^ 
and  certain  large  concerns  began  experiments  with  cadmium  solder  as 
a  means  of  saving  tin.  The  results  of  these  experiments  were  prom- 
ising, but  the  demand  for  tin  decreased,  and  the  armistice  was  signed 
before  cadmium  solders  became  widely  used.  Cadmium  was  used  by 
European  nations  during  the  war  for  some  strictly  military  purposes, 
but  little  exact  information  is  available  to  show  those  purposes.  Ger- 
many was  the  first  of  the  belligerent  nations  to  make  large  use  of 
cadmium  as  a  substitute  for  tin  in  solders,  being  cut  off  by  the  blockade 
almost  entirely  from  the  world's  sources  of  tin. 

The  highest  average  annual  price  recorded  for  cadmium  produced 
in  the  United  States  was  $1.56  per  pound,  in  1916.  In  1919,  the 
average  prices  of  the  metal  and  the  sulphide  were  $1.22  and  $1.20  per 
pound,  respectively;  and,  in  1920,  $1.17  and  $1.16,  respectively. 

COBALT. 

Bibliography:  Report  XIV;  Bulletin  67.     U.  S.  G.  S,,  Min.  Res. 
of  U.  S.,  1912,  1918. 

Occurrences  of  some  of  the  cobalt  minerals  have  been  noted  in 
several  localities  in  California,  but  to  date  no  commercial  deposits  have 
been  developed.     Some  of  the  copper  ores  of  the  foothill  copper  belt 


'U.  S.  G.  S.  Press  Bull.  No.  407,  May,  1919,  p.  1. 


52  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

iu  Mariposa  and  Madera  counties  have  been  found  to  contain  cobalt 
up  to  3%. 

The  most  important  use  of  cobalt  is  in  the  manufacture  of  the  alloy, 
stellite,  in  which  it  is  combined  with  chromium,  for  making  high-speed 
lathe  tools,  and  non-tarnishing  cutlery  and  surgeons'  appliances.  The 
metal  is  also  used  in  electroplating,  similarly  to  nickel ;  and  the  oxide, 
carbonate,  chloride,  sulphate  and  other  salts  are  used  in  ceramics  for 
coloring.  Some  of  the  organic  salts  of  cobalt  (acetate,  resinate,  oleate) 
are  employed  as  'driers'  in  paint  and  varnish. 

Quotations  for  the  metal  reached  $6  per  pound  during  the  war;  and 
at  present  (July,  1921)  are  around  $4  per  pound. 

COPPER. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletins  23,  50. 

Copper  is  second  only  to  gold  among  the  metals  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia. For  many  years  Shasta  was  the  leading  county  in  the  output 
of  the  red  metal,  but  in  1919,  Plumas  advanced  to  first  place.  In 
1920,  Calaveras  County  also  passed  Shasta.  This  was  due  to  the 
maintenance  of  output  level  by  the  Engels  and  Walker  properties  in 
Plumas  County,  by  the  Calaveras  in  Calaveras  County,  and  to  the 
shutting  down  of  the  Mammoth,  IMountain  and  Afterthought  proper- 
ties in  Shasta  County.  Both  the  Engels  and  Walker  mines  have 
flotation  plants  in  operation,  and  ship  the  concentrates  to  smelters 
outside  of  the  state.  Other  important  producing  counties  in  1920 
were  Siskiyou,  Inyo,  and  Madera,  iu  the  order  named.  Although  the 
copper  workings  of  the  Mountain  Copper  Co.  were  closed  down  in 
1920,  a  part  of  the  year's  copper  credited  to  Shasta  County  was 
obtained  as  a  by-product  from  pyrite  which  had  been  sold  and  utilized 
in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  after  which  the  cinder  was 
smelted  at  other  plants. 

In  1920,  some  yield  in  greater  or  less  amount  was  reported  from  a 
total  of  14  counties,  as  against  16  counties  in  1919,  and  24  in  1918. 
The  total  production  for  1920  was  12,947,299  pounds,  or  approximately 
60%  of  the  1919  figures,  which,  in  turn,  were  less  than  one-half  of  the 
1918  output.  The  value  was  $2,382,303.  The  price  of  copper  in  recent 
years  has  ranged  from  13.3^  average  for  the  year  1913  to  27.3^  in 
1917,  dropping  to  18.6^  in  1919,  and  18.4^  in  1920.  The  present  quo- 
tations (July,  1921)  are  around  13^  per  pound.  With  tAvo  or  three 
notable  exceptions,  of  which  the  Engels  in  Plumas  County  is  the  most 


I 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


53 


prominent,  practically  all  of  the  copper  mines  in  California  are  at 
present  idle.  The  same  state  of  affairs  also  exists  in  the  other  western 
copper-producing  states:  Arizona,  Montana,  Nevada,  and  Utah. 


Now  mill  of  The  Engels  Copper  Company,  Plumas  County.  Photo  by  courtesy  of 
the  Mining  and  Scientific  Press. 

Flotation  concentration  is  successfully  employed  at  a  number  of  the 
copper  mines  in  California,  notably  by  the  Engels  Copper  Company 
and  the  Walker  I\Iine  in  Plumas  County,  the  Calaveras  Copper  Com- 
pany in   Calaveras  County,  and  the  Mammoth  Copper  Company  in 


54 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Shasta  County.  A  leaching  plant  built  near  Raymond  handles  ores 
from  the  Green  Mountain  copper  mine  in  Mariposa  County.  Blue- 
stone,  cement  copper,  and  other  by-products  are  made. 


Tramway    terminal    and    head    frame    at    the    Superior    Mine,    Engels    Copper    Com- 
pany,  Plumas  County.  Photo  by  courtesy  of  the  Mining  and  Scientific  Press.         / 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  55 

Distribution  of  the  output  by  counties,  for  1920,  was  as  follows: 


County  Pounds            Value 

Calaveras 2,112.186 

Inyo 144,286 

Kern „„206 

Madera 89,846 

Mono  3,215 

Orange  „  ro^ro? 

Plumas    9,583,834 

San  Bernardino— o-.^'^ 

Shasta  810,843 

Del  Norte,  Los  Angeles,  Mariposa,  Nevada,  San  Luis 
Obispo,  Siskiyou* 197,012 

Totals 12,947,299        $2,382,303 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Amount  and  value  of  copper  production  in  California  annually  since 
such  records  have  been  compiled  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  is  given 
in  the  following  tabulation: 


$388,642 

26,549 

38 

16,532 

592 

8i 

1,763.425 

991 

149,195 

36,255 


Year 


Pounds 


Value 


1887 ]  1,600,' 

1888 1,570, 

1889 151, 

1890 23 

1891 3,397, 

1892 2,980, 

1893 239, 

1894 738, 

1895 225, 

1896 1,992, 

1897 ■  13,638, 

1898 21,543, 

1899 23,915 

1900 29,515 

1901 34,931, 

1902 27860, 

1903 19,113, 

1904 29,974 


,000 

$192,000 

.021 

235,303 

.505 

18,180 

,347 

3,502 

,455 

424,675 

,944 

342,808 

,682 

21,571 

,594 

72,486 

,650 

21,901 

,844 

199,519 

,626  ! 

1,540,666 

,229 

2,475,168 

,486 

3,990,534 

,512 

4,748,242 

,788 

5,501,782 

,162 

3,239,975 

,861 

2,520,997 

.1.S4 

3,969,995 

Tear 

Pounds 

Value 

1905 

16,997,489 

$2,650,605 

1906 

28,726.448 

5,522,712 

1907 

32,602,945 

6,341.387 

1908 

40,868,772 

5,350,777 

1909 

65,727,736 

8,478,142 

1910 

53,721,032 

6,680,641 

1911 

36,838,024 

4,604,753 

1912 

34,169,997 

5,638,049 

1913 

34,471,118 

5,343,023 

1914 

30,491,535 

4,055,375 

1915 

40,968,966 

7,169,567 

1916 

55,809,019 

13,729,017 

1917 

48,534,611 

13,249.948 

1918 

47,793,046 

11,805,883 

1919 

22,162.605 

4,122.246 

1920   -  

12,947,299 

2,382,303 

Totals 

;  816,243,502 

$136,643,732 

XV   (inc.).     Bul- 


GOLD. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  I  to 
letins  36,  45,  57.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Prof.  Pap.  73. 

Gold  is  one  of  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  California. 
For  a  number  of  years  up  to  1916  there  was  a  marked  tendency  toward 
increased  activity  in  gold  mining,  as  investors  realized  that  many  of 
the  mines  and  prospects  have  not  been  exhausted.  The  increase  in  costs 
of    all    supplies,    labor    and    transportation   since    1915    has    made   it 


56  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

increasingly  difficult  for  the  gold  miner  to  operate  at  a  profit.  The 
gold  output  of  not  only  California,  but  of  the  other  western  gold 
states  has  decreased  greatly.  Many  of  the  mines  have  been  forced  to 
close  down. 

The  gold  miner  is  decidedly  at  a  disadvantage.  The  prices  of  other 
metals  and  products  can  be  raised  to  meet  conditions;  but  the  gold 
miner's  dollar,  being  the  base,  has  to  remain  at  the  same  face  value 
though  its  purchasing  power  has  dropped  to  approximately  one-half. 
A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  Congress  to  provide  for  a  subsidy  on 
new  gold  produced  in  the  United  States.  When  conditions  again 
assume  a  normal  trend,  gold  mining  will  again  increase ;  but  it  will 
probably  take  several  years. 

There  is  one  branch  of  gold  mining,  however,  that  has  apparently 
passed  its  zenith  in  California — that  of  dredging.  The  available  ground 
at  Oroville,  in  Butte  County,  the  oldest  field  in  the  state,  is  nearly 
Avorked  out.  Some  re-dredging  will  be  done  hy  larger,  modern 
machines  in  the  earliest  ground  Avorked  there,  but  not  over  the  entire 
area.  In  May,  1920,  there  were  but  four  boats  in  operation  at 
Oroville. 

The  State  Mining  Bureau  has  never  independently  collected  statistics 
of  gold  and  silver  production,  as  there  is  no  necessity  for  duplicating 
the  very  thoroughly  organized  work  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
covering  those  metals.  The  data  here  given  relative  to  these  two  metals 
has  been  received  through  the  courtesy  and  cooperation  of  Mr.  Charles 
G.  Yale,  Statistician  in  Charge  of  the  San  Francisco  branch  office  of 
the  Division  of  Mineral  Resources.  Anyone  wishing  fuller  details  of 
the  production  of  these  metals  may  obtain  the  same  by  applying  to  the 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  Washington,  D.  C,  or  to  room  305,  U.  S. 
Custom  House,  San  Francisco,  California,  for  a  copy  of  the  'separate' 
on  the  subject. 

There  was  a  decrease  of  $2,384,012  in  the  1920  gold  output  of  Cali- 
fornia, compared  to  the  1919  yield  of  $16,695,955;  and  the  outlook 
for  1921  is  not  showing  much  improvement.  Among  those  that  have 
been  large  producers,  the  Argo'naut  and  Kennedy  mines  in  Amador 
County  were  nonproductive  for  several  months  on  account  of  an 
underground  fire,  the  flooding  of  the  Avorkings  to  conquer  it;  then 
having  to  pump  the  AA^ater  out;  and  the  North  Star  mine  in  Nevada 
County  has  been  working  at  only  part  capacity.  In  addition  to  these, 
two  of  the  large  copper  smelters,  the  ]\Iammoth  and  the  Mountain, 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


57 


which  yielded  important  amounts  of  gold  and  silver,  have  been  shut 
down  since  early  in  1919.  x\  notable  exception  to  the  above  described 
depression  among  the  gold  producers  is  the  Carson  Hill  group,  which 
includes  the  famous  INIorgan  mine,  in  southern  Calaveras  County. 
Current  reports  credit  this  property  with  continuing  a  fairly  steady 
output  of  approximately  $100,000  per  month. 

Although   local   newspapers    report   some   renewal   of   inquiries   for, 
and  activity  in,  gold  properties  particularly  along  the  >\lother  Lode,  it 


Dredged  land  as  left  by  the  re-soilini 
near  Natoma,   Sacramento  County. 


dredge  of  Natomas  Company  of  California. 


has  not  yet  made  itself  felt  in  the  bullion  column.  According  to  the 
mid-year  review  of  Yale,^  mint  and  smelter  receipts  for  the  first  six 
months  of  1921  have  totaled  only  $7,362,294  in  gold,  or  $482,000  less 
than  during  the  first  six  months  of  1920. 

"No  sign  of  immediate  improvement  in  gold  mining  in  California  can  be  seen.  The 
cost  of  supplies  has  diminished  somewhat,  but  wages  continue  to  be  a  source  of  con- 
tention between  the  operators  and  the  miners'  unions.  Within  a  few  weeks  two  of  the 
most  productive  deep  mines  of  the  State  will  probably  be  added  to  the  number  that 
are  closed  down.  At  one  of  the  larger  mines,  which  crushed  more  than  60,000  tons 
of  ore  last  year,  the  cost  of  producing  go'd  was  $19.15  an  ounce,  and  this  property 
has  perhaps  the  best-equipped  reduction  plant  in  California,  making  a  total  recovery 
of  97J   per  cent. 

lYale,  Chas.  G.,  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv,,  Press  Bulletin,  July  21,  1921, 


58  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

"The  decrease  in  output  does  not  affect  equally  the  deep  and  the  placer  mines. 
The  output  of  the  deep  mines  appears  to  be  falling  off  about  16  per  cent,  whereas  that 
of  the  placers  is  falling  off  only  12  per  cent.  The  placer  gold  output  is  kept  up  mainly 
by  the  dredgers,  which  show  little  total  loss,  but  other  forms  of  placer  mining  are  not 
so  prosperous  as  formerly.  The  supply  of  water  this  year,  however,  has  been  much 
more  favorable  for  the  placers  than  in   1920." 

The  following  is  quoted  from  the  advance  chapter  on  Gold  in  1920, 
by  courtesy  of  Mr.  Charles  G.  Yale,  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey: 

"The  general  conditions  of  the  metal-mining  industries  in  California  in  1920  were 
more  unfavorable  tlian  has  been  the  case  in  many  years.  These  were  much  the  same 
as  in  the  other  Western  States,  such  as  high  cost  of  skilled  labor  and  supplies,  burden 
of  war  taxation,  high  freight  rates,  labor  union  troubles,  etc.,  causing  numerous  mines 
to  be  closed  down  entirely  and  others  to  curtail  operations.  The  decrease  is  due 
entirely  to  a  smaller  output  of  gold  by  $2,384,912  and  of  copper  by  $1,719,012  than 
in  1919,  for  increases  are  shown  in  the  quantities  and  values  of  the  silver,  lead  and 
zinc.  Several  of  the  larger  and  almost  all  of  the  smaller  copper  properties  were 
unproductive.  The  larger  gold  mines  all  curtailed  operations,  many  of  them  to  the 
extent  of  50  per  cent,  and  numbers  ceased  work  for  the  time,  while  several  closed  down 
permanently  and  allowed  the  mines  to  fill  with  water.  The  smaller  deep  gold  mines 
were  much  fewer  in  number  than  usual  and  made  lessened  outputs.  From  placer  mines 
the  reports  received  were  discouraging  in  all  forms  of  gravel-mining  dredge,  hydraulic, 
drift,  and  surface — the  total  gold  from  these  sources  being  $972,463  less  than  in  1919. 
The  deep  mines,  however,  were  even  worse  off,  the  deficit  for  the  year  being 
$1,412,449,  as  compared  with  1919.  The  cost  of  producing  an  ounce  of  gold  at  the 
deep  mines  has  been  steadily  rising  until  it  has  reached  such  a  point  that  mining 
for  it  has  become  almost  prohibitive  under  present  conditions.  From  a  cost  of  $9. .51 
an  ounce  in  1913  it  has  gone  up  to  $19.15  an  ounce  in  1920,  even  among  the  larger 
mines  with  fully  equipped  and  carefully  managed  reduction  plants.  It  is  this  con- 
dition which  has  caused  the  closing  down  or  lessened  operations  at  so  many  gold 
mines,  more  particularly  the  deep  ones,  but  affecting  to  some  extent  the  gravel 
mines  also. 

"In  the  five  Mother  Lode  counties  of  the  state,  one  of  which  contains  the  deepest 
gold  mines,  38  per  cent  of  the  total  ore  milled  or  shipped  was  treated.  The  output  of 
ore  in  these  counties  was  339,930  tons  less  than  in  1919  and  the  value  of  total 
recovery  $1,434,416  less.  The  value  of  total  recovery  per  ton,  however,  has  risen  to 
$7,851  in  1920  from  $6,270  per  ton  in  1919. 

"The  average  value  of  all  metals  from  ores  of  the  state  in  1920  was  $10.20  a 
ton,  as  compared  with  $8.24  a  ton  in  1919.  From  ordinary  ore  sent  to  gold  and 
silver  mills  the  recovery  in  batteries,  plates,  etc..  was  $8,340  a  ton  in  gold  and  $0,159 
in  silver,  compared  with  $5,927  a  ton  in  gold  and  $0,118  in  silver  in  1919.  The 
recovery  from  the  concentrates  treated  was  $24,215  per  ton  in  gold  and  $6,343  per 
ton  in  silver.  Crude  ores  of  all  kinds  sent  to  smelters  averaged  $8,278  in  gold  and 
$41,718  in  silver.  Old  tailings  treated — 33,540  tons — averaged  $1,501  in  gold  and 
$0,763  in  silver. 

*  *  ♦  *  *  *  *     . 

"The  total  mine  production  of  gold  in  California  in  1920  was  692,296.70  fine 
ounces,  valued  at  $14,311,043,  a  decrease  of  115,370.12  fine  ounces,  valued  at 
$2,384,912  from  the  production  of  1919.  This  decrease  was  due  to  conditions 
described  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  The  deep  mines  of  the  State  yielded  350.739.55 
fine  ounces,  valued  at  $7,250,430,  which  was  a  decrease  of  68,327.22  fine  ounces,, 
valued  at  $1,412,449.     Of  the  deep-mine  gold  99  per  cent  was  derived  from  siliceous 

"The  yield  of  nlacer-mine  gold  was  341.557.15  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $7,060,613, 
which  is  $972,463  less  than  in  1919.  The  dredges  of  the  state  yielded  $6,900,366  m 
gold  in  1920,  which  is  $816,553  less  than  in  1919.  From  1898,  when  gold  dredgmg 
began  in  California,  to  the  end  of  1920  the  total  gold  output  from  that  source  has . 
been  $117  236  197.  Since  1898  the  Oroville  or  Feather  River  dredgmg  field,  in  Butte 
County,  has  yielded  $31,338,086,  not  including  $2,496,890  derived  in  the  last  11  years 


in  gold.     DredgesTiave'aisobee'n 'operated  in  several  smaller  fields  in  other  northern, 
counties  of  the  state. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


59 


"Tho  placer  mines  produced  49  per  cent  of  the  gold  yield  in  1920  and  the  deep 
mines  51  per  cent,  as  compared  with  48  per  cent  for  the  placer  and  52  per  cent  for 
the  deep  mines  in  1919.  The  dredges  produced  48  per  cent  of  the  total  gold  from  all 
sources  in  1920.  Of  the  total  placer  gold  the  dredges  produced  about  98  per  cent, 
the  hydraulic  mines  0.9  per  cent,  drift  mines  0.8  per  cent,  and  sluicing  mines  0.4  per 
cent.  The  larger  dredging  fields  are  at  Oroville,  Butte  County  ;  Folsom.  Sacramento 
County ;  and  Hammonton,  Yuba  County  ;  but  dredges  are  also  operated  in  8  other 
counties — 1  in  Amador,  2  in  Calaveras,  1  in  Placer,  1  in  San  Joaquin,  4  in  Shasta,  2  in 
Siskiyou,  2  in  Stanislaus,  and  4  in  Trinity  County.  There  were  40  dredges  reporting 
production  in  California  in  1920,  or  less  than  in  1919,  and  several  of  these  quit  work 
before  the  end  of  the  year,  having  worked  out  their  ground.  The  Yuba  County 
dredges,  10  in  number,  made  the  largest  output  of  gold  in  1920,  the  value  being 
$3,456,452,  a  decrease  of  $729,474.  Sacramento  County,  with  9  dredges  at  work, 
produced  $1,574,744.  a  decrease  of  $137,961.  In  Butte  County  (including  Oroville 
and  the  "outside  districts")  4  dredges  produced  $441,650,  or  $80,046  more  gold  than 
in   1919. 

"Of  the  28  counties  producing  gold  in  California  in  1920,  6  yielded  no  placer  gold 
and  3  produced  no  gold  from  deep  mines.  Five  counties  produced  more  than  $1  000  - 
000  each  in  gold  in  1920,  as  follows:  Yuba,  $3,467,769;  Nevada,  $2,872,471;  Amador 
$1,788,793;  Sacramento.  $1,575,033;  and  Calaveras,  $1,439,745.  The  most  productive 
county  in  deep-mine  gold  was  Nevada,  with  $2,860,557.  The  leading  producer  of  gold 
from  dredges  was  Yuba ;  the  gold  output  from  hydraulic  mines  was  largest  in 
Siskiyou;  in  drift  mining,  Butte  led;  and  surface  placer  output  was  greatest  in 
Fresno.  The  largest  increase  in  gold  in  1920  was  made  in  Sierra  County  ($141  722) 
which  was  followed  by  Mono  ($115,318),  Butte  ($89,603),  San  Bernardino  ($39426)' 
Stanislaus  ($37,939).  Plumas  ($18,497).  Mariposa  ($8438),  and  a  few  others  with 
smaller  increases.  The  greatest  decrease  in  gold  output  was  in  Amador  ($1  131  699) 
followed  by  Yuba  ($727,963),  Sacramento  ($139,160).  Calaveras  ($110,829)'  and 
Nevada    ($1<»S,S41),   and   some  others  less   than    $100,000. 

******* 

"The  1919  productive  placer  mines  of  California  in  1920  yielded  gold  valued  at 
$7,060,613  and  silver  valued  at  $32,591.  The  decrease  in  placer  gold  was  $972,463  and 
the  increase  in  silver  $1316.  In  production  of  placer  gold  the  dredges  showed  a 
decrease  of  $816,553,  tho  hydraulic  mines  $118,599,  and  the  drift  mines  $22,416,  and 
the  surface  placers  a  decrease  of  $14,895.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  all  forms  of  gold 
mines  shared  in  the  general  decrease  of  gold  output  of  the  state  in  1920." 

The  gold  production  of  California  for  1920  was  distributed,  by 
counties,  as  follows : 


County 


Value 


Amador  $1,788,793 


Butte 
Calaveras  . 
EI  Dorado 
Fresno  .-... 
Humboldt . 

Inyo 

Kern  ._. 

Madera 

Mariposa  .. 

Mono 

Nevada  

Orange  -_--. 
Placer  


467,900 

1,439,745 

13,379 

7,793 

2,538 

55,634 

61.187 

6,382 

261.830 

144,746 

2,872,471 

145 

151.088 


County 


Plumas 

Sacramento 

San  Bernardino 

Shasta  

Sierra  

Siskiyou   

Stanislaus  

Trinity 

Tuolumne 

Yuba 

Alpine,  Los  Angeles,  Modoc, 
San   Joaquin* 

Total  value 


Value 


$102,097 

1,575,033 

79.195 

312,901 

442,894 

80,707 

142,467 

541,387 

254,569 

3,467,769 

38,393 


$14,311,(M3 


^Coihbined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Total    Gold    Production    of   California. 

The  following  table  was  compiled  by  Chas.  G.  Yale,  of  the  Division 
of  Mineral  Resources,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  but  for  a  number  of  years 
statistician  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau  and  the  U.  S.  Mint 
at  San  Francisco.  The  authorities  chosen  for  certain  periods  were: 
J.  D.  Whitney,  state  geologist  of  California ;  John  Arthur  Phillips, 


60 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


author  of  "Mining  and  Metallurgy  of  Gold  and  Silver"  (1867)  ;  U.  S. 
Mining  Commissioner  R.  W.  Raymond;  U.  S.  Mining  Commissioner 
J.  Ross  Browne ;  Wm.  P.  Blake,  Commissioner  from  California  to  the 
Paris  Exposition,  where  he  made  a  report  on  "Precious  Metals"  (1867)  ; 
John  J.  Valentine,  author  for  many  years  of  the  annual  report  on 
precious  metals  published  by  AVells,  Fargo  &  Company's  Express;  and 
Louis  A.  Garnett,  in  the  early  days  manager  of  the  San  Francisco 
refinery,  where  records  of  gold  receipts  and  shipments  were  kept.  Mr. 
Yale  obtained  other  data  from  the  reports  of  the  director  of  the  U.  S. 
Mint  and  the  director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey.  The  authorities 
referred  to,  who  were  alive  at  the  time  of  the  original  compilation  of 
this  table  in  1894,  were  all  consulted  in  person  or  by  letter  by  Mr.  Yale 
with  reference  to  the  correctness  of  their  published  data,  and  the  final 
table  quoted  was  then  made  up. 

The  figures  since  1904  are  those  prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey : 


Tear 

Value 

1848   

$245,301 
10,151.360 
41,273,106 
75,938,232 
81,294,700 
67,613,487 
69.433,931 
55,485,395 
57.  .509,411 
43,028,172 
46,591.140 
45,846,599 
44,095,163 
41,884,995 
38.854,668 
23,501,736 
24,071,423 
17.930,858 
17,123,867 
18,265,452 
17.555,867 
18,229,044 
17,458,133 
17,477,885 
15,482,194 
15,019,210 
17,264,836 
16.876,009 
15,610,723 
16,501,268 
18,839,141 
19,626,654 
20,030,761 
19,223,155 
17.146,416 
24,316.873 
13,600,000 

1849  

1850     -   

1851  

1852 

1853  

1854 

1855 

1856  

1857  

1858 

1859     . 

1860  

1861  — 

1862  

1863  

1864    

1865  

1866  .  -   -  

1867  

1868  

1869  - - 

1870  

1871  

1872  

1873  

1874  

1875   — 

1876  

1877  .- 

1878  

1879 

1880 

1881  

1882  

1883  

1884  

Tear 


1885 
1886 
1887 


1889  

1890  

1891  

1892  

1893  

1894  

1895  

1896 

1897  

1898  

1899  

1900  

1901  

1902  

1908  

1904  

1905  

1906  

1907  

1908  

1909  

1910  

1911 

1912  

1913  

1914  

1915  

1916 

1917  

1918 

1919 

1920 

Total. 


$12,661,044 
14,716.506 
13.588,614 
12.750,000 
11.212.913 
12,309.793 
12.728.869 
12.571,900 
12.422.811 
13,923.281 
15.334.317 
17.181.562 
15.871.401 
15.906.478 
15.336.031 
15.863.355 
16.989.044 
16,910.320 
16,471,264 
19,109.600 
19.197,043 
18.732,452 
16.727.928 
18,761.559 
20.237,870 
19,715,440 
19,738.908 
19,713,478 
20,406.958 
20.653.496 
22,442,296 
21,410,741 
20,087.504 
16.529,162 
16,095,955 
_  14.311,043 
$1,720,218,101 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  61 

IRIDIUM  (see  niuler  Platinum). 

IRON    ORE. 

Bibliography.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IT,  IV,  V,  X,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV.  Bulletins  38,  67.  Am.  Inst.  Eng.,  Trans.  LIII. 
Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  112,  117-122. 

Iron  ore  to  the  amount  of  5,975  tons,  valued  at  $40,889,  was  pro- 
duced in  California  during  the  year  1920,  and  utilized  for  foundry 
flux,  and  in  steel  refining  at  open-hearth  plants.  This  is  an  increase 
over  the  2,300  tons  and  $13,796  of  1919,  and  is  the  largest  amount 
for  a  single  year  since  1883. 


Magrnetite  and  limestone  Quarries  of  the  Xoble  Electric  Steel  Corporation  on 
property  of  the  Shasta  Iron  Company,  near  Heroult,  Shasta  County.  Photo  by 
C.   A.   Waring. 

There  are  considerable  deposits  of  iron  ore  known  in  California, 
notably  in  Shasta,  Madera,  Placer,  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  coun- 
ties, but  production  has  so  far  been  limited,  on  account  of  our  having 
no  economic  supply  of  coking  coal.  Some  pig-iron  has  been  made, 
utilizing  charcoal  for  fuel,  both  in  blast  furnaces  and  by  electrical 
reduction.  Further  developments  along  the  line  of  electrical  smelting, 
or  discoveries  making  available  our  petroleum  fuel,  for  iron  reduction, 
would  lead  to  considerable  increase  of  iron  mining  in  California.  For 
the  present,  at  least,  the  most  feasible  possibilities  lie  in  utilizing  our 
iron  resources  in  the  preparation  of  the  various  alloys  such  as  ferro- 
chrome,  ferro-manganese,   ferro-molybdenum,  ferro-silicon  and  ferro- 


62 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


tungsten,  by  means  of  the  electric  furnace.     California  possesses  com-  '^ 

mercial  deposits  of  ores  of  all  of  the  metals  just  enumerated.  t 

Total  iron  ore  production  in  the  state,  with  annual  amounts  and  i 
values,  is  as  follows: 


1881* 

1882 

1883 

1884 

1885 

1886 

1887 

1893 

1894  , 

1895  , 
1907    , 
1908 
1909    . 


9,273 

2,073 

11,191 

4,532 


3.676 


250 
200 


400 


108 


$79,452 
17,766 

106,540 
40,963 


19,250 


2,000 
1,500 


400 


Tear 


174 


1910  

1911  

1912  

1913  

1914  

1915  

1916  

1917    

1918   

1919  

1920 

Totals 


Tons 


Valu* 


579 
658 
2,508 
2,343 
1,436 
724 
3,000 
2,874 
3,108 
2,300 
5,975 


57,088 


$900 

558 

2,508 

4,485 

5,128 

2.584 

6,000 

11,496 

15,947 

13,796 

40,889 


$472,356 


♦Productions  for  the  years  1881-1886  (inc.)  were  reported  as  "tons  of  pig  iron," 
(U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  1885),  and  for  the  table  herewith  are  calculated  to  "tons  of 
ore"  on  the  basis  of  47.6%  Fe  as  shown  by  an  average  of  analysis  of  the  ores  (State 
Mineralogist's  Report  IV,  p.  242).  This  early  production  of  pig  iron  was  from  tlie 
blast  furnaces  then  in  operation  at  Hotaling  in  Placer  County.  Charcoal  was  used 
in  lieu  of  coke.  Tliougli  producing  a  superior  grade  of  metal,  tliey  were  obliged 
finally  to  close  down,  as  tliey  could  not  compete  with  the  cheaper  English  and 
eastern   United   States   iron  brought   in   by   sea   to   San  Francisco. 


LEAD. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Eeports  IV,  VIII,  X,  XV. 

Lead  production  in  California  in  1920  increased  slightly  over  that 
of  the  preceding  year,  both  in  quantity  and  value.  The  average  price 
dropped  from  8.6^  in  1917  to  7.1^  per  pound  in  1918;  and  to  5.3^  in 
1919 ;  increasing  in  1920  to  8.0fJ.  The  pre-war  prices  were  3.9^  in 
1914  and  4.7^  in  1915. 

The  principal  production  in  this  state  comes  from  Inyo  County, 
which  contributed  94%  of  the  1920  yield,  followed  by  San  Bernardino, 
with  smaller  amounts  in  1920  from  Mono  and  Shasta. 


County 

Pounds 

Value 

Mono 

85,014 
4.612,338 
15,932 
115,876 
64,400 
10,178 

$6,801 

368,987 

1,275 

Inyo 

Orange 

San  Bernardino 

9,270 

Shasta  __. 

5,152 

Calaveras,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  Mariposa,  Nevada,  Plumas* 

815 

Totals 

4,903,738 

$392,300 

^Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


STATISTICS   OP  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


63 


Statistics  on  lead  production  in  California  were  first  compiled  by 
this  Bureau  in  1887.  Amount  and  value  of  the  output,  annually,  with 
total  figures,  to  date,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Year  Pounds            Value 

1887 1,160,000  $52,200 

1888 900,000  38,250 

1889 940,000  35,720 

1890 800,000  36,000 

1891 1,140,000  49,020 

1892 1,360,000  54,400 

1893 666,000  24,975 

1894 950,000  28.500 

1895 1,5^2,400  49,364 

1896 1,293,500  3&805 

1897 596,000  20,264 

1898 655,000  '  2^907 

1899 721,000  30,642 

1900 1,040,000  41,600 

1901 720,500  '  28,820 

1902 349,440  12,230 

1903 110,000,  3,960 

1904 ;  124,000  I  5,270 


Tear 


Pounds 


1905 533,680 

1906 338,718 

1907 328,681 

1908 1,124,483 

1909 2,685,477 

1910 3,016,902 

1911 1,403,839 

1912 1,370,067 

il913 3.640,951 

1914 4,697,400 

1915 4.796,299 

1916 12,392,031 

1917 21,651,352 

1918 13,464,869 

1919.-... 4,139,562 

1920 4,903,738 


Value 


$25,083 

19,307 

16,690 

46,663 

144,897 

134,082 

63,173 

61.653 

160.202 

183,198 

225,426 

855,049 

1,862,016 

956,006 

219,397 

392,300 


Totals— 95,605,889  '      $5,939,069 


MANGANESE. 

Bihliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIT,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletins  38,  67,  76.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  427. 

In  the  statistical  reports  previous  to  1915,  manganese  ore  was  included 
in  the  'industrial  materials'  list.  In  that  year  we  made  a  transfer, 
and  have  since  placed  it  under  'metals,'  because  by  far  the  greater 
tonnage  of  manganese  ore  is  utilized  in  the  preparation  of  ferro- 
manganese  and  employed  in  the  steel  industry  both  for  its  metal 
content  and  to  slag  off  certain  impurities  during  the  open-hearth  treat- 
ment. Though  its  other  uses  may  be  classed  as  'chemical,'  the  tonnage 
thus  consumed  is  relatively  smaller.  Its  chemical  uses  are  as  a  decolor- 
izer  or  oxidizer  in  glass  manufacture,  and  as  a  constituent  in  electric 
dry  batteries.  The  chemical  uses  require  a  much  higher  grade  of  ore 
than  the  steel  industry.  For  steel  purposes  an  iron  content  is  accepta- 
ble, but  manganese  should  exceed  40%.  Silica  should  be  under  8%, 
though  higher  was  taken  during  the  war  period.  Phosphorus  should 
be  under  0.20%.  For  electric  dry  cells,  the  iron  content  should  be 
under  1.5%  FcoOs,  and  SiOo,  under  6%.  For  glassmaking  the  man- 
ganese should  be  practically  free  of  iron.  On  account  of  the  high 
prices  prevailing  for  manganese  during  1915-1918,  it  is  stated  that 
selenium  Avas  replacing  it,  in  part  at  least,  in  glass  factories. 

Though  the  imports  of  manganese  ore  from  the  Caucasus  district 
in  Russia  were  reduced  by  the  war  to  practically  nothing  (about  1% 
of  1914  figures),  the  United  States  received  important  shipments  from 
Brazil,   India   and   Cuba ;   so   that   the   total   imports   for   1916   were 


64 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


practically  double  those  of  either  1914  or  1915.  The  1916  figures  were 
576,321  long  tons,  valued  at  $8,666,179 ;  for  1917,  a  total  of  629,972 
long  tons,  valued  at  $10,262,929,  of  which  512,517  tons  were  from 
Brazil ;  in  1918  a  total  of  491,303  long  tons,  value  $15,095,867,  of  which 
345,877  tons  were  from  Brazil ;  in  1919,  a  total  of  333,344  long  tons, 


Ore 


Open-cut  stope  of  Buckeye  Manganese   Mine,   Stanislaus  County, 
body   extracted   was   20'   wide   and   over   75'   long,    of   ore   carrying   48% 
manganese.     This  mine  was  the  largest  single  producer  in  California  in 
1918-1919. 

value  $11,229,184,  of  which  246,592  tons  came  from  Brazil;  in  1920, 
total  601,437  long  tons,  value  $11,955,922,  421,523  tons,  Brazil.  The 
increased  demand  for  steel  products  increased  the  necessity  for  ferro-|i 
manganese,  which  is  used  largely  in  the  open-hearth  process  of  steel 
making.  This  resulted  in  curtailment  of  ferro-manganese  exports  from 
England,  and  the  resulting  shortage  in  the  United  States  was  met  by 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  65 

the  greater  imports  of  manganese  ore  from  Brazil  especially,  and  an 
increased  domestic  production  both  of  ore  and  ferro-manganese.  These 
conditions  caused  the  prices  for  the  ores  to  range  from  $30  to  $60 
per  ton,  f.o.b.  rail,  California,  for  the  steel  grades,  to  above  $75  for 
chemical  grades,  during  1917-1918. 

Batteries,  chemicals,  and  kindred  industries  in  the  United  States 
consume  approximately  25,000  tons  of  high-grade  manganese  ore, 
annually,  or  about  one-thirtieth  of  that  used  in  steel  manufacture. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  state's  1917  and  1918  product  was 
utilized  in  California  in  making  ferro-mangauese  by  electric  furnace; 
besides  shipments  whicli  were  sent  East.  Some  'chemical'  ore  was 
also  shipped.  For  many  years  the  principal  producing  section  has 
been  the  Livermore-Tesla  district,  in  Alameda  and  San  Joaquin  coun- 
ties, but  exceeded  in  1915  by  Mendocino  and  regaining  the  lead  in  1916. 
In  1918-1920  the  largest  producing  county  was  Stanislaus,  which 
adjoins  San  Joaquin  on  the  south,  and  whose  manganese  district  is  a 
part  of  the  same  geological  province  that  includes  the  Livermore-Tesla 
district.^  Humboldt  County  ranked  second  in  1920,  with  Mendocino 
third. 

Manganese  is  reported  to  exist  in  many  localities  in  the  state;  but 
for  a  number  of  years,  particularly  since  the  discontinuance  of  the 
chlorination  process  in  the  metallurgy  of  gold,  production  was  rela- 
tively unimportant  until  the  activity  of  the  war  period. 

The  production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  for  1920  amounted 
to  2,892  tons  of  all  grades,  having  a  total  value  of  $62,323  f.o.b.  railway 
shipping  point.  This  was  less  than  one-third  of  the  quantity,  and 
one-eighth  of  the  value  in  1919.  The  1916  output  nearly  equaled  the 
entire  previous  tonnage,  1887  to  1915,  and  was  about  double  the  value 
for  the  same  period.  Most  of  the  1919  output  of  California  manganese 
was  made  during  the  first  half  of  the  year  by  a  few  companies  that 
had  uncompleted  contracts  running  to  July  1 ;  but  there  were  few  ship- 
ments in  the  second  half.  In  1920,  the  market  revived  and  several 
properties  were  reopened  both  in  the  Humboldt-Mendocino  and  the 
San  Joaquin-Stanislaus  districts.  The  prices  avera'ged  $21.70  per 
ton,  f.o.b.  California  points  for  all  grades,  and  the  ores  shipped  ranged 
from  44%  to  55%.  Most  of  the  1920  tonnage  went  to  eastern  points 
for  the  manufacture  of  ferro-manganese.  A  part  was  used  locally  for 
electric  dry-battery  purposes. 

Part  of  the  1920  California  output  was  a  concentrated  product  made 
at  the  plant  of  the  Consolidated  Manganese  Co.  in  Berkeley  from  high- 
silica  manganese  ores  by  an  electro-magnetic  separation.  About  75% 
of  their  material  is  obtained  from  the  Livermore-Tesla  district,  and 


'See   Plate  II,   p.   24,    Cal.    State  Min.    Bur.    Bulletin   No.   7C,    191S. 
5 — 12865 


66 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


some  ha.s  been  treated  carrying  as  high  as  35%  SiO,.  This  plant  is  at 
present  turning  out  42  tons  per  month,  of  a  product  analyzing  54% 
Mn.  and  7%  SiO^.  This  concentrate  is  sold  to  the  large  iron  foundries 
for  use,  instead  of  ferro-manganese,  in  their  cupola  blast  furnaces  in 
making  gray-iron  castings.  It  is  cheaper,  and  i.s  stated  to  be  equally, 
if  not  more,  satisfactory  than  ferro-manganese  for  that  purpose. 
The  1920  output  was  distributed  by  counties  as  follows : 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Humboldt               _           ____--           _      __       

859 
24/ 
893 
893 

$18,513 

7.816 

12,973 

23,021 

Lake                                        -         -            -            

Stanislaus              -      _  _  - -  - ._ 

Alameda,  Mcndooino,  San  Joaquin,  San  Luis  Obispo* 

Totals 

2,892 

.1«2.323 

*(^oml)ined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operci-tor  in  each. 

In  1918  there  were  two  electric  smelters  in  operation  in  California 
making  ferro-alloys :  the  plant  of  the  Noble  Electric  Steel  Company  at 
Heroult,  Shasta  County,  and  the  newer  one  of  the  Pacific  Electro  Metals 
Company  at  Bay  Point,  Contra  Costa  County.  Both  were  idle  in  1919- 
1920. 

Production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  began  at  the  Ladd  Mine, 
San  Joaquin  County,  in  the  Tesla  District  in  1867.  When  shipments 
of  this  ore  to  England  ceased  late  in  1874,  upwards  of  5,000  tons  had 
been  produced  by  that  property.  For  some  years  following  that,  the 
output  was  small.  The  tabulation  herewith  shows  the  California  output 
of  manganese  ore,  annually,  since  1887,  when  the  compilation  of  such 
figures  was  begun  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau :  A 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tone 

Value 

1887 

1,000 

1,500 

53 

386 

705 

300 

270 

523 

880 

518 

504 

440 

295 

131 

425 

870 

1 

60 

$9,000 

13,500 

901 

3,176 

3,830 

3,000 

4,050 

5,512 

8,200 

3,415 

4,080 

2,102 

3,165 

1,310 

4.405 

7,140 

25 

900 

1905 

1888 

1906             --     ..    .-  .  — 

1 

1 
321 

3 
265 

2 
22 

$30 

1889  _.. 

'  1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913    

25 

1890 

1891 

5,785 
75 

1892 

4,235 

1893      _• 

40 

1894 

400 

1895 

1896 

1914 

1915 

150 
4,013 
13.404 
15,515 
26,075 
11.569 
2,892 

1,500 

1897 

49,098 

1898 

1916 

274,601 

1899 

1917 -. 

396,659 

1900 

1918       

979,235 

1901 

1919  -  -      -.            

451.422 

1902 

1920 

Totals 

62,323 

1903 

1904 

83,094 

$2,303,139 

STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  67 


MOLYBDENUM. 

Bibliography :  Report  XIV.     Bulletin  67.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  Min.,  Bul- 
m  letin  111.     Proc.  Colo.  Sci.  Soc,  Vol.  XI. 

m  Molybdenum  Is  used  as  an  alloy  constituent  in  the  steel  industry, 
and  in  certain  forms  of  electrical  apparatus.  Included  in  the  latter, 
is  its  successful  sub.stitution  for  platinum  and  platinum-iridium  in 
electric  contact-making  and  breaking  devices.  In  alloys  it  is  used 
similarly  to  and  in  conjunction  with  chromium,  cobalt,  iron,  manganese, 
nickel,  tungsten,  and  vanadium.  'Die  oxides  and  the  ammonium  salt 
liave  important  chemical  uses. 

The  two  principal  iiiDlyhdenuiii  iiiiuerals  ai'e :  tlie  sulphide,  molyb- 
denite; and  wnlfenite,  lead  molybdate,  the  former  furnishing  prac- 
tically the  entire  commercial  output.  Molybdenite  is  found  in  or  asso- 
ciated with  acidic  igenous  rocks,  such  as  the  granites  and  pegmatites. 
The  chief  commercial  sources  have  been  New  South  Wales,  Queensland, 
and  Norway,  with  some  also  from  Canada. 

Deposits  of  dis.seminated  molybdenite  are  known  in  several  localities 
in  California,  and  in  at  least  two  places  it  occurs  in  small  masses 
associated  with  copper  sulphides.  In  1916,  was  recorded  the  first 
commercial  shipments  of  molybdenum  ore  in  California. 

The  1917  output  included  some  concentrates  a.ssaying  up  to  58% 
IMoSo,  but  the  bulk  of  it  was  1.5 9<  ore  which  was  shipped  to  Denver, 
Colorado,  for  concentration.  TJiat  production  came  mainly  from  Shasta 
County,  with  smaller  amounts  from  Inyo,  ]\lono  and  San  Diego  coun- 
ties. There  were  two  concentrating  plants  built  in  California — one 
in  each  of  the  above  first  and  last-named  counties. 

In  1917  the  plant  of  the  Sacramento  Alining  Company,  lessee,  at  the 
Bour  mine  near  Ramona.  San  Diego  County,  made  a  small  output  of 
concentrates;  but  the  mine  has  since  reverted  to  tlie  owner,  and  the 
plant  been  dismantled. 

In  the  spring  of  1918,  a  fiotation  plant  operated  for  a  short  time  by 
a  lessee  on  the  Boulder  Creek  mine,  near  Gibson  Siding,  Shasta  County, 
made  a  small  amount  of  90%  MoSj  concentrate.  The  ore  treated 
carried  2.6%  ^loS^,.     There  was  none  produced  in  1919,  nor  1920. 


I 


68 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


The  California  production  of  molybdenum  ore  by  years  is  summa- 
rized in  the  f ollowinor  tabulation : 


Tear 

1916  

1917   

1918  

Totals 

*Conc€aIed'  under  'Unapportioned.' 


8 
343 


251 


$9,945 
9,014 


$18,959 


NICKEL. 

BiUiography:  Report  XIV.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletin  640-U. 

Nickel  occurs  in  the  Ftriday  Copper  Mine  in  the  Julian  District,  Sai 
Diego  County.  The  ore  is  a  nickel-bearing  pyrrhotite,  with  some  assc 
ciated  chalcopyrite.  Some  ore  has  been  mined  during  recent  years 
the  course  of  development  work,  but  not  treated  nor  disposed  of,  as 
they  are  as  yet  unable  to  get  any  smelter  to  handle  it  for  them. 
Nickel  ore  has  also  been  reported  from  Siskiyou  County,  west  of  Gazelle 
and  from  San  Bernardino  County. 

OSMIUM  (see  under  Platinum). 
PALLADIUM  (see  under  riatinum). 


PLATINUM. 

Bihliograpliy  :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VIII,  IX,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV.     Bulletins  38,  45,  67,  85.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  285. 

In  California  platinum  is  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  placer  oper- 
ations for  gold.  The  major  portion  of  it  comes  from  the  dredges  oper- 
ating in  Butte,  Calaveras,  Sacramento  and  Yuba  counties,  while  the 
hydraulic  and  surface  sluicing  mines  of  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Siskiyou 
and  Trinity  and  the  dredges  of  Merced  and  Stanislaus  yield  a  smaller 
amount. 

The  production  for  1920  amounted  to  679  ounces  of  crude  platinum- 
group  metals,  containing  477  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $68,977.  Of  this 
amount  a  total  of  643  ounces,  crude,  or  95%,  came  from  the  gold' 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  69 

dredges.  This  is  an  increase  over  the  1919  figures.  Of  this  477  fine 
ounces,  a  total  of  182  fine  ouneas  was  the  iridium  and  osrairidium 
content.  Crude  'platinum'  is  really  a  mixture  of  the  metals  of  that 
group,  and  carries  varying  amounts  of  platinum,  iridium  and  osmir- 
idiuni  or  iridosmine,  with  occasionally  some  palladium.  Some  plati- 
num is  also  recovered  in  the  electrolytic  refining  of  blister  copper.  It 
has  been  found^  that  blister  copper  from  several  smelters  in  the  United 
States  carries  from  0.342  oz.  to  1.825-  oz.  platinum  and  from  0.607  oz. 
to  4.402  oz.  palladium  per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  treated.  That 
from  Iron  ^Mountain,  Shasta  County,  California,  also  yields  some 
platinum.  Iron  in  greater  or  less  amount  is  always  alloyed  naturally 
witli  native  platinum,  and  usually  some  iridium  and  osmium. 

The  presence  of  platinum  has  recently  been  identified  in  the  labora- 
tory of  the  State  Alining  Bureau,  in  association  with  chromite  from 
Siskiyou  County.  The  occurrence  of  platinum  in  the  Piute  mine,  near 
Cima,  San  Bernardino  County,  in  a  lead  carbonate  ore  associated  with 
gold,  silver,  and  copper  values,  has  been  confirmed  by  samples  taken 
by  J.  ^r.  Hill-  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  in  1920  and  analyzed  in 
the  Survey  laborator3\  Shipments  of  this  ore  were  made  to  a  lead 
smelter  in  1919,  but  apparently  the  platinum  was  not  recovered. 

For  further  detailed  information  on  California's  platinum  resources, 
analyses,  tests,  et  al.,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Bulletin  85,  recently 
issued  in  1919  by  the  State  IMining  Bureau. 

In  addition,  there  is  usually  some  platinum  recovered  as  a  by-product 
in  the  gold  refinery  of  the  ]\Iint,  but  which  can  not  be  assigned  to  the 
territory  of  its  origin  for  lack  of  knowing  to  which  lots  of  gold  it 
belongs.  The  San  Francisco  Mint  is  stated  to  have  recovered  as  high 
as  100  ounces  of  platinum  in  a  single  year  from  this  source,  some  of 
which  unquestionably  came  from  California  mines. 

"United  States  refiners  of  gold  and  copper  produce  annually  about  1500  ounces  of 
refined  platinum  as  a  by-product,  chiefly  from  copper  ore,  of  both  foreign  and 
domestic  origin."^ 


'Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Vol.  47,  pp.   217-218,  1913. 

^Personal  communication  to  the  author. 

=Hill,   J.    M.,    Our  Mineral    Supplies.     Platinum:  U.    S.    Geol.    Surv.,    Bulletin    666-D. 


70  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    C.VLIPORNIA. 

For  1920,  the  distribution  by  counties  was  as  follows: 

County                                                              Fine  ounces  Value 

Butte -            42  $4,714 

Calaveras 20  2,002 

Shasta=   ,..          158  27,004 

Trinity- 37  6,612 

Yuba   113  14,395 

Amador,  Mendocino,  Plumas,  Sacramento,  San  Joaquin, 

Stanislaus,  Tuolumne* 107  14,250 


Totals 477        i  $68,97; 

^Part  of  the  Shasta  and  Trinity  Countv  product  assayed  over  50%  iridium. 
•Combined   to   conceal   output   of  a   sing-le  operator  in   each. 


i 


Russia,  previous  to  the  war,  was  producing  from  90%  to  95%  of 
the  world's  platinum;  but,  since  1916  has  been  reduced  to  practically 
nothing. 

The  price  of  the  metal  consequently  rose  to  over  $100  per  troy  fine 
ounce.  During  1916,  it  varied  from  $90  in  January,  to  $55  in  August. 
$105  December  1,  and  closing  the  year  at  $82.  The  1917  price  Avas 
from  $100  to  $105.  In  1916,  the  miners  of  California  received  from 
$43  to  $76  per  ounce  for  their  crude  platinum,  and  an  average  of  $45.50, 
as  against  $29  to  $38  per  ounce  during  1915.  In  1917,  they  received 
an  average  of  $72  per  ounce,  and  $74.50  in  1918  for  crude.  During 
1918  the  U.  S.  Government  commandeered  all  new  platinum  produced 
at  a  fixed  price  of  $105  per  fine  ounce.  The  refiners  were  licensed 
and  were  recpiired  to  turn  over  all  stocks  to  the  Government.  Osmium 
was  quoted  at  $35  to  $40  per  ounce,  and  iridium  at  $175.  Osmiridiiun 
i-s  a  natural  alloy  of  the  two.  In  1919,  the  prices  reached  $165  per 
fine  ounce  for  platinum,  and  $290  per  fine  ounce  for  iridium. 

In  1920,  the  average  of  San  Francisco  quotations  was  $114  per  fine 
ounce  for  platinum,  and  $149.95  per  oz.  for  platinum  containing  10% 
iridium.  The  quotations  for  platinum  ranged  from  $150  in  January 
to  $85  in  July;  then  rose  to  $115  in  August,  and  gradually  receded 
again  to  $85  in  December.  For  the  iridium-bearing,  the  prices  varied 
from  $180  in  January  to  $118  in  July.  $165  in  August,  and  $125  in 
December.  The  quotations  in  June,  1921,  are  $75  and  $105,  respec- 
tively. As  high  as  $354  per  fine  ounce  for  iridium  content  was  paid 
in  1920,  according  to  the  report  of  one  of  the  gold  dredging  companies. 

Next  in  importance  to  Russia  as  a  producer  of  platinum  is  Colombia. 
California  is  the  leading  producer  in  the  United  States.  As  platinum 
and  chromite  are  alike  in  their  association  with  serpentine  derived 
from  basic  igneous  rock  such  as  peridotite,  pyroxenite  and  dunite,  it 
is  not  unlikely  that  some  day  platinum  will  be  found  in  place  in 


I 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


71 


some  of  California's  abundant,  chrome-bearing  serpentine  areas. 
Platinum  and  chromite  have  been  found  intergrown  in  dunite  on  the 
Tulameen  River  in  British  Columbia.^ 

Besides  its  well-known  uses  in  jewelry,  dentistry  and  for  chemical- 
ware,  an  important  industrial  development  of  recent  years  employs 
platinum  as  a  catalyzer  in  the  'contact  process'  of  manufacturing  con- 
centrated sulphuric  acid.  It  is  also  necessary  for  certain  delicate  parts 
of  the  ignition  systems  in  automobiles,  motor  boats,  and  aeroplanes. 
Experiments  have  been  made  to  find  alloys  which  can  replace  platinum 
for  dishes  and  crucibles  in  analytical  work,  but  so  far  with  only  slight 
success. 

The  annual  production  and  value  since  1887,  have  been  as  follows : 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


100  ; 

$400 

1905 

.500  ' 

2.000 

1906 

500 

2,000 

'907 

600 

2,500 

1908 

100 

500 

1909 

80 

440 

1910 

75 

517 

1911 

100  ' 

600 

1912 

m] 

900 

1913 

162 

944 

1914 

150 

900 

1915 

300 

1.800 

1916 

300 

1,800 

1917 

400  ' 

2,.500 

1918 

250 

3,200 

1919 

39 

468 

1920 

70  1 

1,052 

123 

1,849 

Total.^. 


200 
91 
300 
706 
416 
337 
511 
608 
368 
463 
667 
886 
610 
.571 
*418 
477 


$3,320 
1.647 
6,25.5 
13.414 
10.400 
8.386 
14.873 
19,731 
17,738 
14,816 
21,149 
42,642 
43.719 
42.788 
60,611 
68,977 


11,617       iF414,a36 


•Fine   ounces. 

'Kemp.  J.  F..  The  geological  relations  and  distribution  of  platinum  and  associate 
metals:  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv..  Bull.  193,  p.  25,  Plates  II,  III,  1902. 

QUICKSILVER. 

Bibliograplixj :    State    Mineralogist    Reports    IV,    X,    XII,    XIII, 
XIV,  XV.     Bulletins  27,  78.     U.  S.   G.  S.,  Monograph  XIII. 

Quicksilver  was  produced  in  thirteen  counties  in  1920,  to  the 
amount  of  10,278  flasks,  valued  at  $755,527,  which  is  a  decrease  both 
in  number  of  flasks  and  value  compared  with  the  year  1919.  The 
average  price  received  during  1920,  according  to  the  producers' 
reports  to  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau,  was  $75.45,  as  against  $89.04  in 
1919  and  the  record  price  of  $114.03  in  1918.  The  1920  yield  is  the 
smallest  number  of  flasks  since  1860. 


Prices. 


The  following  table  of  monthly  San  Francisco  quotations  per  flask 
of  75  pounds  will  indicate  the  status  of  quicksilver  during  the  year 


72 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


1920.  San  Franei.sco  is  the  primary  domestic  market  for  quicksilver. 
The  1914  quotations  averaged  $49.05  per  tlask.  However,  because  since 
the  war  there  has  been  speculation  in  quicksilver  by  parties  other  than 
the  actual  producers,  and  the  price  changes  have  often  been  rapid  so 
that  quotations  did  not  always  mean  sales,  we  have  since  1914  taken 
for  the  average  value  the  average  actual  sales  as  reported  to  us  by  the 
producers.  This  gave  us  an  average  value  of  $81.52  per  flask  for  the 
year  1915,  instead  of  the  $85.80  average  of  quotations;  for  1916, 
$93.50  instead  of  $125.89;  for  1917,  $98.29  instead  of  $106.33;  for 
1918,  $114.03  instead  of  $117.50;  for  1919,  $89.04  instead  of  $90.29, 
and  for  1920,  $75.45;  instead  of  $79.70.  From  this,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  speculative  element  in  the  quicksilver  market  has  largely  dis- 
appeared since  the  close  of  the  war. 


San   Francisco  Quotations  of  Quicksilver,  1920. 


Average 
Month                                price 

Month 

Average 
price 

January    __- $89  00 

July  $88.00 

August                                                            RS  TiO 

February _      .      __.             81.00 

March _..      „..            87.00 

i  September  .        .       ._ 

75.00 

April   '          100.00 

October    _  .    _.       ._  _ 

71.00 

May    -    87.00 

iNovember  ..  .      _    ..    ._ 

56.00 

June    _      _  _  -         .      .  .    __            85.00 

December   _ 

52.50 

Present   Economic  Situation. 

Tile  famous  mines  at  Almaden,  Spain,  are  the  largest  world  pro- 
ducers, and  are  owned  by  the  government.  The  cost  of  production  of 
quicksilver  is  stated  to  have  increased  from  $8.29  a  flask  in  1900  to 
$15.22  in  1915.  Their  ore  is  high-grade,  the  material  sent  to  the 
furnaces  averaging  9%-ll%  mercury.  An  interesting  account  of  the 
Almaden  mine  has  recently  been  written  by  Sir.  H.  W.  Gould,^  for- 
merly General  Superintendent  of  the  New  Idria  mine,  California, 
following  a  visit  to  Spain  and  Italy  in  Januar}^,  1921. 

For  two  or  three  years  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  European  war, 
our  normal  peace-time  consumption  of  quicksilver  in  the  United  States 
was  approximately  25,000  flasks  annually ;  and  our  domestic  production 
had  fallen  below  20,000  flasks  per  year.  Of  this  25,000-flask  peace-time 
consumption,  nearly  50%  went  into  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for 
explosive  caps  for  mining,  quarrying,  and  sporting  arms  ammunition  as 
well  as  military  ammunition.  Our  domestic  production  being  inade- 
quate, partly  because  of  the  Iom^  price  and  the  lower  average  tenor  of 
the  ores  mined,  necessitated  the  importation  of  up  to  5000  flasks  annu- 
ally. The  enormous  increase  in  munitions  manufacture  due  to  the  war 
temporarily  raised  our  requirements  correspondingly. 


'Gould,  H.  W.,  The  Almaden  quicksilver  mine  in  Spain;  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  Vol. 
122,   p.    567,  Apr.   23,   1921. 


< 


r 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


73 


New  Idria  Quicksilver  Mining  Company  plant,  San  Benito  County,  showing  recon- 
struction   of   condenser   system    since    the    fire    of    June,    1920. 

The  import  duty  of  10%  ad  valorem  is  not  sufficient  to  protect  our 
American  miners  against  the  competition  of  the  cheaply-operated  mines 
of  Spain  and  Italy,  where  quicksilver  can  be  produced  for  as  low  as 
$8  to  $15  per  flask,  as  noted  above.  The  duty  should  be  at  least  $25 
per  flask  to  give  us  proper  protection.  The  new  Fordney  Tariff  Bill, 
now  before  Congress,  proposes  a  duty  of  35^  per  pound  on  quicksilver, 
equivalent  to  $26.25  per  flask. 

Quicksilver,  though  not  used  in  such  quantities  as  is  copper  or  some 
of  the  other  metals,  is  not  less  vital  in  peace  than  in  war.  No  com- 
pletely successful  substitute  has  yet  been  found  for  quicksilver  in  some 
of  its  uses.  Except  during  the  stimulated  production  resulting  from 
the  high  prices  of  the  war  period,  our  domestic  output  of  quicksilver 
for  a  number  of  years  has  not  kept  pace  with  domestic  consumption. 
This  is  not  due  to  a  lack  of  local  sources,  but  mainly  to  the  competition 
of  low-cost  foreign  metal  dumped  onto  our  market  through  an  almost 
negligible  import  duty.  Other  financial  and  economic  conditions 
obtaining  during  the  past  year  have  also  had  their  effect  on  the  situa- 
tion, but  they  could  have  been  weatliered  had  it  not  been  that  the  lack 
of  tariff  protection  permitted  the  too-free  entry  of  foreign  metal. 
There  is  plenty  of  ground,  even  in  Calif oi-nia,  in  addition  to  wliat 
may  be  in  Nevada  and  Texas,  that  will  warrant  development  if  only  a 


74  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

fair  price  can  be  assured  that  will  justify  exploitation.  Our  domestic 
quicksilver  industry  is  in  danger  of  complete  extinction,  if  not  soon 
given  adequate  protection  against  foreign  importation.  Manufactured 
mercurials  should  also  be  included  in  the  dutiable  tariff  list,  as  a  pro- 
tection to  our  detonator  and  drug  manufacturers,  which  would  in  turn 
further  assist  the  domestic  mines.  The  manufacturers  of  mercurial 
products  in  the  United  States  should  join  with  the  miners  in  the 
demand  for  an  adequate  protective  tariff.  We  should  not  short- 
sightedly 'conserve'  our  domestic  quicksilver  resources  by  forcing  them 
to  remain  in  the  ground  on  account  of  foreign  competition,  only  to 
wake  up  some  day  when  faced  with  an  emergency  to  find  that  quick- 
silver mining  and  metallurgy  is  a  'lost  art'  in  the  United  States  and 
cannot  be  revived  at  a  moment's  notice.  Several  months'  time  is 
retpiired  to  properly  equip  and  put  in  operation  a  reduction  plant, 
and  the  knowledge  of  the  art  is  even  at  present  confined  to  a  limited 
few. 

Uses. 

The  most  important  uses  of  quicksilver  are  the  recovery  of  gold  and 
silver  by  amalgamation,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for 
explosive  caps,  of  drugs,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  appar- 
atus. By  far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  the  manufacture  of 
fulminate  and  drugs. 

One  new  use  for  quicksilver  is  in  the  introduction  of  a  small  amount 
into  the  cylinders  of  steam  turbines  to  improve  the  vapor  pressure  and 
thus  increase  efificiency.  This  mercury  is  recoverable  and  can  be 
re-used,  so  that  there  is  only  a  small  proportional  loss. 

Quicksilver  is  an  absolutely  essential  element  from  a  military  stand- 
point, as  there  has  not  >et  l)een  produced  an  entirely  satisfactory 
commercial  substitute  for  it  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminating  caps 
for  explosives.  However,  in  order  to  reduce  consumption  of  the  ful- 
minate, some  potassium  chlorate,  picric  acid,  trinitro-tuluol,  or 
tetranitro-methalmine  is  sometimes  mixed  with  it.  The  Ordnance 
Department  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  during  the  war,  at  least,  would  accept 
no  substitutes,  as  they  have  thus  far  proven  unreliable. 

New    Equipment. 

The  most  notable  of  recent  developments  in  the  metallurgy  of  quick- 
silver is  the  adaptation  of  the  rotary  cement-kiln  to  the  reduction  of 
quicksilver  ore  at  the  New  Idria  mine,  San  Benito  County.  They  have 
there  installed  five  such  furnaces,  Avith  a  combined  daily  capacity  of 
500  tons.  The  lead  of  the  New  Idria  Company  in  the  matter  of  rotary 
furnaces  was  followed  at  the  Sulphur  Bank  mine.  Lake  County;  Bella 
Union  or  Rutherford  mine.  Napa  County;  Cloverdale  mine,  Sonoma 
County,  and  at  the  January  mine,  Yolo  County. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  75 

Operations   in   1920. 

California  operators  reported  in  1920  tliat  it  was  costing  }l;65-$75 
per  flask  to  produce  their  metal.  With  quotations  down  to  $oO  per 
flask,  and  few  sales  on  account  of  foreign  importations,  the  California 
furnaces  were  all  closed  down  on  November  1st,  with  the  exception  of 
the  New  Almaden,  which  has  continued  to  operate  on  a  small  scale. 
On  June  20th,  the  reduction  plant  of  the  New  Idria  mine,  San  Benito 
County,  was  wrecked  by  fire,  but  they  proceeded  to  rehabilitate  it  and 
had  two  of  their  five  rotary  furnaces  again  in  use  when  compelled  to 
close  on  account  of  the  above-noted  market  conditions. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  year's  product  remained  in  the  warehouse, 
unsold,  at  the  close  of  December. 

Production. 

Though  some  domestic  yield  of  this  metal  is  now  obtaiiietl  from 
Texas,  Nevada,  Arizona,  and  Oregon,  the  bulk  of  the  output  still  comes 
from  California. 

The  distribution  of  the  1920  product,  by  counties,  was : 


County 


Kings  

Lake 

Napa   

San   Benito 

San  Luis  Obispo 

Santa  Clara 

Kern,  Santa  Barbara,  Siskiyou,  Solano,  Sonoma,  Stanis- 
laus,  Trinity* 


Flasks      1 

Value 

436 

$28,620 

3a-) 

24,314 

266 

18,588 

3,887 

296,942 

1,224 

89,186 

2,893 

233,199 

1,187 

&4,678 

10,278    I        $775,527 


Totals 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  sing'e  operator  in  eacli. 

The  outlook  for  1921  promises  a  still  lower  yield  of  (luicksilver. 
Reports  to  hand  (July,  1921)  indicate  a  production  of  approximately 
1,500  flasks  for  the  first  six  months,  mainly  from  the  New  Almaden 
and  Cloverdale  mines,  the  latter  operating  intermittently. 

Total  Quicksilver  Production  of  California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  the  quicksilver  production  of  California, 
as  given  in  available  records,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation. 
Though  the  New  Almaden  mine  in  Santa  Clara  County  was  first 
worked  in  1824,  and  has  been  in  practically  continuous  operation  since 
1846  (though  the  yield  was  small  the  first  two  years),  there  are  no 
available  data  on  the  output  earlier  than  1850.  Previous  to  June,  1904, 
a  'flask'  of  cpiicksilver  contained  76J  pounds,  but  since  that  date  75 
pounds.  In  compiling  this  table  the  following  sources  of  information 
were  used:  for  1850-1883,  table  by  J.  B.  Randol,  in  Report  of  State 
Mineralogist,  IV,  p.  336;  1883-1893,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  reports; 
1894  to  date,  statistical  bulletins  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau ;  also 


76 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNLV. 


State  Mining  Bureau,   Bulletin  27,   "Quicksilver  Resources  of   Call-      j 
fornia,"  1908,  p.  10: 


Average 

price  per 

flask 


Ave  rag* 

price  per 

flask 


1850 

1851 

1852  

1853  

1854  

1855  

1856 

1857 

1858 

1859  

1860 

1861  .,_ 

1862  

1863  

1864  

1865  

1866  

1867  

1868  

1869 

1870 

1871  

1872  

1873  

1874  

1875 

1876 _ 

1877  

1878  

1879 

1880  

1881  

1882  

1883 

1884  

1885 


7,723 
27,779 
20.000 
22,284 
30,004 
33.000 
30.000 
28,204 
31.000 
13.000 
10,000 
35,000 
42.000 
40,531 
47,489 
53.000 
46.550 
47,000 
47.728 
33.811 
30,077 
31,686 
31.621 
27,642 
27,756 
50,250 
75,074 
79,396 
63,880 
73,684 
59.926 
60.851 
52.732 
46,725 
31.913 
32,073 


$768,052 
1,859,248 
1.166.600 
1.235.648 
1,663,722 
1,767,150 
1,549,500 
1,374,381 
1,482,730 
820,690 
535.500 
1,471,750 
1,526,700 
1,705,544 
2,179,745 
2.432,700 
2.473,202 
2,157,300 
2,190,715 
1,551,925 
1,725,818 
1,999,387 
2,084,773 
2,220,482 
2,919,376 
4,228,538 
3,303,256 
2,961.471 
2.101,652 
2.194,674 
1.857.706 
1.815,185 
1,488.624 
1.343,344 
973.347 
986,245 


$99  45 
66  93 
58  33 
55  45 
55  45 
53  55 
51  65 
48  73 
47  83 
63  13 
53  55 
42  05 

36  35 
42  08 
45  90 
45  90 
53  13 
45  90 
45  90 
45  90 
57  38 
63  10 
65  93 
80  33 

105  18 
84  15 
44  00 

37  30 
32  90 
29  85 
31  00 

29  83 
28  23 
28  75 

30  50 
30  75 


1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 


29,981 
33.760 
33,250 
26.464 
22,926 
22.904 
27.993 
30,164 
30.416 
36.104 
30.765 
26.691 
31.092 
29,454 
26.317 
26,720 
29.552 
32.094 


1904  *28.876 


1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


24,655 
19.516 
17,379 
18,039 
16,217 
17,665 
19,109 
20.600 
15.661 
11.373 
14.199 
21,427 
24.382 
22.621 
15,200 
10,278 


$1,064,326 

1,430,749 

1,413,125 

1.190.880 

1,203,615 

1,036,406 

1,139.595 

1.108.527 

934.000 

1,337,131 

1,075.449 

993.445 

1,188.626 

1.405.045 

1,182,786 

1,285,014 

1,276,524 

1.335.954 

1,086,3-23 

886.081 

712.334 

663,178 

763,520 

773.788 

799.002 

879,205 

866,024 

630,042 

557,846 

1.157,449 

2,003,425 

2,396.466 

2,579,472 

1,353,381 

775,S27 


Totals..!  2,185.827  $106,700,940 


$35  50 
42  38 

42  50 
45  00 
52  50 
45  25 
40  71 

36  75 
30  70 

37  04 

34  96 

37  28 

38  23 

47  70 

44  94 

48  46 

43  20 
42  25 

37  62 

35  94 

36  50 

38  Ifi 
42  33 
47  71 

45  23 

46  01 
42  04 
40  23 

49  05 
81  52 
93  50 
98  29 

114  03 
89  04 
75  45 


•Flasks  of  75  lbs.  since  June,  1904;  ot  76i  lbs.  previously. 

SILVER. 

Bihliography.  State  Mineralogist  Eeports  IV,  VIII,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV.     Bulletin  67.     Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  March  1,  1919. 

Silver  in  California  is  produced  largely  as  a  by-product  from  its 
association  with  copper,  lead,  zinc,  and  gold  ores.  As  explained  under 
the  heading  of  Gold,  the  State  Mining  Bureau  does  not  collect  the 
statistics  of  silver  production  independently  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey. 

The  average  price  of  silver  during  1920  was  $1.09  per  ounce  at 
New  York  as  compared  with  54.8^  in  1914;  50.7^  in  1915;  65.8^  in 
1916;  82.4^  in  1917;  $1  in  1918;  and  $1.12  in  1919. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


77 


The  following  paragraph  is  (iiiotcd  from  the  U.  S.  G.  S.  Advance 
Chapter  on  1920,  by  courtesy  of  Mv.  Clias.  G.  Yale : 

"The  total  production  of  silver  in  California  in  1920  was  1.706,327  fine  ounces, 
value'!  at  $1,859,896,  which  is  an  increase  of  r)99,138  ounces  in  quanlily  and  $019,845 
in  value.  The  deep-mine  silver  yield  was  1,676,427  ounces,  valued  at  $1,827,305  and 
that  from  placers  was  29,900  ounces,  valued  at  $32,591.  The  siliceous  ores  yielded 
1.243,971  fine  ounces,  of  which  1,123,451  ounces  were  from  strictly  silver  ores,  as 
compared  with  48,494  ounces  from  silver  ores  in  1919.  This  is  an  increase  of  696.430 
ounces  from  siliceous  ores  in  1920,  as  compared  with  1919.  The  copper  ores  yielded 
179,752  fine  ounces  in  1920,  or  169,728  ounces  less  than  1919.  Silver  from  lead  ores 
in  1920  amounted  to  252,704  fine  ounces,  or  80,495  more  than  in  1919.  The  largest 
output  of  silver  in  1920  was  inade  by  San  Bernardino  County,  which  produced 
1,098,903  fine  ounces  from  siliceous  ores,  and  13,929  ounces  from  lead  ores,  a  total  of 
1,112,832  ounces,  valued  at  $1,212,987.  Inyo  County  produced  10,595  ounces  from 
siliceous  ores,  107  ounces  from  copper  ores,  and  226,847  ounces  from  lead  ores,  a  total 
of  237,549  ounces,  valued  at  $258,929.  Plumas  County  produced  504  ounces  from 
siliceous  ores  and  139,184  ounces  from  copper  ores,  a  total  of  139,688  fine  ounces, 
valued  at  $152,260.  In  all  other  counties  smaller  quantities  of  silver  were  produced. 
Shasta  for  many  years  the  leading  producer  of  this  metal  only  showing  an  output  of 
33,544  ounces,  valued  at  $36,563  (including  placer)  in  1920.  The  increase  of  silver  in 
('alifoniia  in  1920  may  l)e  attril)uled  to  the  very  large  output  of  the  California  Rand 
Silver  (Inc.)  property  in  San  Hernardino  County,  a  mine  producing  silver  ore  with 
some  go'd.  There  were  18  mines  virtually  producing  silver  only  in  that  county 
in   1920." 

The  silver  output  is  sustained  and  encouraged  through  the  operation 
of  the  Pitman  Act  maintaining  the  price  of  domestic  silver  at  $1.00 
per  ounce.  The  following  statement  from  the  mid-year  review  by 
Yale^  shows  a  continuance  of  improvement  in  the  California  silver 
yield  for  1921 : 

"The  silver  received  during  the  first  half  of  1921  by  the  mint,  smelters,  and 
refineries  amounted  to  1.235.820  ounces,  or  726.535  ounces  more  than  in  the  first  half 
of  1920.  and  the  first  half  of  1920  showed  an  increase  of  376.310  ounces  over  the 
same  period  in  1919.  This  is  somewhat  remarkable,  for  several  of  the  large  copper 
mines  of  the  State,  from  which  most  of  the  silver  produced  in  California  has  usually 
been  derived,  have  remained  closed  in  1920  and  1921.  The  deficiency  thus  caused  has 
been  more  than  made  up  during  the  last  two  years  by  tlie  silver  and  silver-lead 
mines,  more  of  which  have  been  produced  than  in  the  preceding  25  years  or  more. 
Most  of  these  mines  are  in  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  counties.  By  far  the  largest 
producer  of  silver  in  the  State  is  the  liand,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  opened  in 
1919." 


The  distribution  of  the  1920  silver  yield,  by  counties,  was  as  follows : 


County 


Value 


County 


AmacJor  __. 

Butte 

Calaveras  . 
El  Dorado. 

Fresno  

Humboldt  . 
Imperial   .. 

Inyo 

Kern 

Madera    ... 
Mariposa   . 

Mono  

Nevada  

Orange  

Placer  


$19,780    Plumas 

2,253   'Sacramento 

16,701  ,  San  Bernardino. 
155:  Shasta 
227, 

2,183 
258,929 

8,385 

1,488 

4,705 
34,369 
58,476 

7,263 

2,178 


Value 


$152,373 

4,534 

1,212.987 

36,563 


Sierra        .-      .. 

3,967 

Siskiyou _    _. 

5,218 

Stanislaus _.    ..    .  _... 

775 

Trinity       .    .  _      .    _. 

3,469 

Tuolumne    __      _            __    .. 

6,007 

Yuba 

16,502 

Alpine,  Los  Angeles,  Modoc, 
San   Joaquin* 

390 

Total 

$1,859,896 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
'Yale.  C.  G..  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Press  Bulletin,  .Tuly  31,  1921. 


I 


78 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  value  of  the  silver  produced  in  California  each  year  since  1880 
has  been  as  follows,  the  data  previous  to  1887  being  taken  from  the 
reports  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint: 


Tear 


Value 


1880 $1,140,556 

1881  i  750,000 

1882 845,000 

1883  1,460,000 

1884  M,185,101 

1885  2,568,036 

1886  1,610,626 

1887  1,632,004 

1888  1,700,000 

1889 1,065,281 

1890 1,060,613 


1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 


953,157 
463,602 
537,158 
297,332 
599,790 
422,464 
452,789 
414,055 
504,012 
^724,500 


Tear 


Value 


1901  ^$571,849 

1902  616,412 

1903  517,444 

1904  873,525 

1905  678,494 

1906  '  817,830 

1907 ,  751,646 

1908  '  873,057 

1909 1  1,091,092 

1910 '  993,646 

1911  673,336 

1912  !  799.584 

1913  832,553 

1914  813,938 

1915  851,129 

1916  1,687,345 

1917  1,462,955 

1918  1,427,861 

1919  I  1,240,051 

1920  j  1,859,896 

Total $42,819,719 


^Lawver,  A.  M.,  in  Production  of  Precious  Metals  in  United  States:  Report  of  Director  of 
Mint,  1884,  p.  175;  1885. 

''Recalculated  to  'commercial'  from  'coining  value,'  as  originally  publislied. 

TIN. 

Bibliography :  Report  XV.     Bulletin  67. 

Tin  is  not  at  present  produced  in  California ;  but  during  1891-1892. 
there  was  some  output  from  a  small  deposit  near  Corona,  in  Riverside 
County,  as  tabulated  below.  Small  quantities  of  stream  tin  have  been 
found  in  some  of  the  placer  workings  in  northern  California,  but  never 
in  paying  amounts. 

Tw^o  occurrences  have  also  been  noted,  in  northern  San  Diego  County. 
Crystals  of  cassiterite  were  found  there,  associated  with  blue  tourmaline 
crystals,  amblygonite  and  beryl.  No  commercial  quantity  has  been 
developed,  only  small  pockets  having  l)een  taken  out,  as  yet. 

The  principal  sources  of  the  world's  supply  of  tin  are  the  islands 
of  Banka,  Billiton  and  Singkep,  Netherlands  India  (Dutch  East 
Indies),  followed  by  the  Federated  Malay  States  (Perak,  Pahang, 
Negri  Sembilan  and  Selangor).  Bolivia,  Siam,  Cornwall,  Transvaal, 
New  South  Wales,  Queensland  and  Tasmania  are  also  important 
sources.  A  measurable  amount  of  the  metal  is  also  recovered  by 
de-tinning  scrap  and  old  cans. 

Total  output  of  tin  in  California: 


Tear 

Pounds 

Value 

1891        -     .-     1         125.289 

$27,564 

1892  

1         126,000 

32,400 

Totals- 


251,289 


$59,964 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  79 

TUNGSTEN. 

Bibliography :  Report  on  San  Bernardino  County,  1917 ;  Report 
XV.  Bulletins  38,  67.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  652.  Proc.  Colo.  Sci. 
Soc,  Vol.  XI.     South  Dakota  School  of  Mines,  Bulletin  No.  12. 

The  metal,  tungsten,  is  used  mainly  in  the  steel  industry  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  including  the  well-known  tung- 
sten filament  lamps.  Because  of  its  resistance  to  corrosion  by  acids,  it 
is  valuable  in  making  certain  fonns  of  chemical  apparatus.  Its  employ- 
ment in  tool-steel  alloys,  permits  the  operation  of  cutting  tools,  such 
as  in  lathe  work,  at  a  si)eed  and  temperature  at  which  carbon  steel 
would  lose  its  temper — lience  the  name  'high-speed'  steels  for  these 
tungsten  alloys.  As  made  in  the  Tiiited  States,  tungsten  forms  13% 
to  20%  of  such  steels.  Some  (•liiM)Hiiuni,  nickel,  cobtilt,  or  vanadium, 
are  sometimes  also  included. 

Tungsten  is  introduced  into  the  molten  steel  charge,  either  as  the 
powdered  metal  or  as  ferro-tungsten  (containing  50%-85%  tungsten). 
The  specific  gravity  of  the  pure  metal,  19.3-21.4,  is  exceeded  only  by 
platinum,  21.5;  iridium,  22.4;  and  osmium,  22.5.  Its  melting  point  is 
3,267°  C.  (5,913°  F.),  being  higher  than  any  other  known  metal. 
Though  millions  of  tungsten  filament  lamps  are  now  made,  the  wires 
are  so  fine  that  the  metal  they  contain  represents  but  a  few  tons  of 
tungsten  concentrates  annually. 

Tungsten  ore  has  been  produced  in  California  principally  in  the 
Atolia-Randsburg  district  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  counties,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Bishop  district  in  Inyo  County,  with  small  amounts 
coming  from  Nevada  County  and  from  the  district  near  Goffs,  in 
eastern  San  Bernardino.  Most  of  the  California  tungsten  ore  is 
scheelite  (calcium  tungstate),  though  wolframite  (iron-manganese 
tungstate)  and  hiibnerite  (manganese  tungstate)  also  occur.  The 
deposits  at  Atolia  are  the  largest  and  most  productive  scheelite  deposits 
known, ^  and  the  output  has  in  some  years  equaled  or  exceeded  that  of 
ferberite  (iron  tungstate)  from  Boulder  County,  Colorado.  It  is  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  to  note  that,  in  practicall}'  all  other  tungsten 
producing  districts  of  the  world,  wolframite  is  the  important  con- 
stituent. Burma,  the  largest  producer,  reported-  for  1917-1919,  yields 
of  4,537,  4,443,  and  3,577  tons  of  wolframite  concentrates,  respectively, 
most  of  which  was  obtained  from  placers,  part  associated  with  cas- 
siterite  (tin  oxide). 

Imports  of  foreign  tungsten  oras  into  the  United  States  during  1920 
amounted  to  1,740  long  tons,  valued  at  .^779,593,  compared  with  8,400 
long  tons,   at   $6,261,190,    in    1919,   and    1().3()2   h)ng   tons   valued   at 


'U.  S.  a.  S..  Bull.  652.  p.  32. 

^U.  S.  Commerce  Reports,  No.  7S,  April  '>,  11I21.  p.  95. 


80 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


$11,409,237  in  1918,  which  ores  are  duty  free.  Owing  to  lack  of  pro- 
tection against  the  cheap  coolie  labor  of  Asiatic  tungsten  mines,  and 
the  present  low  market  prices,  practically  all  of  the  tungsten  mines 
in  the  United  States  have  been  closed  down  since  the  middle  of  1919. 
Besides  the  ore,  1,997,719  pounds  of  tungsten  and  ferro-tungsten  was 
imported,  equivalent  to  about  2,250  short  tons  of  60%  ore,  and  prob- 
ably more  than  enough  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  high-speed  tool 
industry,  so  that  there  was  added  to  the  already  large  stock  in  this 
country  somewhat  more  than  the  quantity  of  tungsten  represented  by 
the  imports  of  ore.  Though  exact  figures  are  not  at  hand,  it  is  stated 
that  a  large  quantity  of  tungsten  ore  is  in  stock  in  this  country,  prob- 
ably more  than  a  three  years'  supply  at  the  average  consumption  before 
the  World  War. 

The  value  of  the  ore  is  based  upon  the  content  of  timgstic  trioxide 
(WO3),  and  quotations  are  commonly  made  per  unit  (each  1%)  of 
WO3  present. 

In  California  in  1920,  there  was  no  production  of  tungsten,  neither 
of  ore  nor  concentrates,  for  the  first  time  since  the  beginning  of  tung- 
sten mining  in  this  state.  The  market  prices  quoted  during  1920 
ranged  around  $3'  per  unit.  The  tonnages  here  shown  are  recalculated 
to  a  basis  of  60%  WO3.  Concentrates  usually  carry  59%  to  63%. 
Previous  to  1915,  a  single  company  produced  almost  all  of  California's 
tungsten.  During  the  latter  part  of  1915,  and  the  early  months  of 
1916,  because  of  the  high  prices  prevailing,  prospecting  was  much 
stimulated,  and  the  known  tungsten-bearing  areas  have  been  consider- 
ably, extended  both  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  counties.  Some 
shipments  were  made  from  mines  opened  up  in  the  Clark  Mountain 
and  New  York  Mountains  districts  in  eastern  San  Bernardino  County, 
In  these  latter  areas,  wolframite  and  hiibnerite  are  the  principal  ores, 
with  some  scheelite,  while  at  Atolia  it  is  scheelite  only.  Scheelite  ore 
is  also  extracted  in  Inyo  County  near  Bishop,  and  three  concentrating 
mills  have  been  in  operation  there.  The  Nevada  County  ore  is  also 
scheelite. 

The  annual  amount  and  value  of  tungsten  produced  in  California 
since  the  inception  of  the  industry  is  given  herewith,  with  tonnages 
recalculated  to  60%  WO^: 


Tear 

Tons  at 
60%  WO3 

Value 

Tear 

Tons  at 
60%  WO3 

Value 

IQfl'i 

57 
485 
287 
105 
577 
457 
,     387 
572 

$18,800 
189,100 
120,587 
37,750 
190,500 
208,245 
127,706 
206,000 
234,673 

1914 

420 

962 

2,270 

2,466 

$180,575 

1906  

1907 

1915 

1,005,467 

1916 

4,571,521 

1Q0S 

1917 

3,079,013 

1909     

1918 

1,982 

2,832,222 

1910          

1919 

1920 

214 

219,316 

Totals 

1912              

11,800 

1913 

559 

$13,221,475 

I 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  81 

VANADIUM. 

Bibliography:  Report  XY.     Bulletin  67.     Proc.   Colo.   Sei.   Soc, 
Vol.  XI.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  104. 

No  commercial  production  of  vanadium  lias  as  yet  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. Occurrences  of  this  metal  have  been  found  at  Camp  Signal,  near 
Goffs,  in  San  Bernardino  County,  and  two  companies  have  done  consid- 
erable development  work  in  the  endeavor  to  open  up  paying  quantities. 
Each  had  a  mill  under  construction  in  1916,  but  apparently  no  commer- 
cial output  was  made.  Ore  carrying  the  mineral  cuprodescloizite  and 
reported  as  assaying  4%  V0O3  was  opened  up.  Late  in  1917,  some  ore- 
carrying  lead  vanadate  was  discovered  in  the  29  Palms,  or  Washington 
district,  on  the  line  between  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  counties. 
Vanadium  has  also  been  reported  near  Lotus  in  El  Dorado  County, 
There  is  a  growing  demand  for  vanadium,  for  u.se  in  the  steel  industry. 

Present  quotations  for  vanadium  ore  are  $1  per  pound  of  V^Og  con- 
tent (guaranteed  minimum,  18%)  ;  and  for  ferro-vanadium,  $4.25- 
$4.50  per  pound  of  Y  shown  by  analysis. 

ZINC. 

BiUiographij :  Reports  XIV,  XV.     Bulletins  38,  67. 

During  1920,  zinc  was  produced  by  one  mine,  each,  in  Inyo  and 
Shasta  counties  to  the  amount  of  1,188,009  pounds,  valued  at  $96,229. 
This  is  less  than  that  of  1919,  both  in  tonnage  and  value,  due  to  the 
low  prices  prevailing.  The  average  price  for  the  year  was  8.1^  per 
pound,  as  compared  to  5.1^  during  1914;  14.2^  in  1915;  13.4^  in  1916; 
10.2^  in  1917 ;  9.1^  in  1918,  and  7.3^  in  1919,  showing  a  steady  decline 
from  the  high-level  prices  of  1915. 

The  zinc  ores  of  Shasta  County  are  associated  with  copper,  while 
those  of  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  are  associated  principally  with  lead- 
silver  ores.  The  electrolytic  zinc  plant  of  the  ^Mammoth  Copper  Com- 
pany at  Kennett,  with  a  capacity  of  100  tons  of  spelter  per  month,  was 
in  operation  during  1918,  but  has  since  closed  down.  It  treated  bag- 
house  fume.  The  Mammoth  did  not  ship  nor  treat  any  raw  zinc  ores 
during  1918-1920.  A  zinc  oxide  plant  has  been  built  at  the  Bully  Hill 
mine,  Shasta  County,  and  is  now  (June,  1921)  in  operation,  turning 
out  30  tons  of  oxide  per  day.  The  ore  is  treated  in  roasters,  where 
the  zinc  is  volatilized,  then  caught  in  a  bag-house  containing  1400 
woolen  bags.  The  copper,  silver  and  gold  in  the  residues  are  collected 
in  a  matte  by  reverberatory  furnaces. 

6— 12S65 


82 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Total  figures  for  zinc  output  of  the  state  are  as  follows,  commercial 
production  dating  back  only  to  1906: 


Tear 

Founds 

Value 

1906   . 

ieo7  . 

...        206,000 
177,759 

$12,566 
10,598 

1908  . 

1909  . 

54.000 

3,544 

1910 

1911  ._.. 

1912  .... 

1913  .... 


2,679,842 
4,331,391 
1,157.947 


152.751 

298.866 

64,845 


Tear 


1914   

1915    

1916   

1917   

1918   

1919    

1920    

Totals 


Founds 


399,641 

13,043,411 

15,950,565 

11,854,804 

5,565,561 

1,384.192 

1,188,009 


Value 


$20,381 
1,617.383 
2,137.375 
1,209,190 

506,466 

ini.0'16 

96,229 


57,993,122  1    $6,231,240 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  83 

CHAPTER  FOUR. 

STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS. 

As  indicated  by  this  chapter  heading,  the  mineral  substances  herein 
considered  are  those  more  or  less  directly  used  in  building  and  struc- 
tural work.  California  is  independent,  so  far  as  these  are  concerned, 
and  almost  any  reasonable  construction  can  be  made  with  materials 
produced  in  the  state.  This  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  for  1920 
was  valued  at  $29,723,405,  as  compared  with  a  total  value  of  $16,796,784 
for  the  year  1919,  the  increase  being  due  to  increased  activity  in  all 
building  and  construction  operations,  following  the  release  of  war- 
time restrictions. 

Deposits  of  granite,  marble  and  other  building  stones  are  distributed 
widely  throughout  this  state,  and  slowly  but  surely  transportation 
and  other  facilities  are  being  extended  so  that  the  growing  demand  may 
be  met.  The  largest  single  item,  cement,  has  had  an  interesting  record 
of  growth  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  in  California  about  1891. 
Not  until  1904  did  the  annual  value  of  cement  produced  reach  the 
million-dollar  mark,  following  which  it  increased  500%  in  nine  years; 
though  from  1914  to  1918  there  was  a  falling  off  common  to  all  build- 
ing materials.  The  1920  output  established  a  new  high-level  mark, 
both  in  quantity  and  value. 

Crushed  rock  production  is  yearly  becoming  more  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, due  to  the  strides  recently  taken  in  the  use  of  concrete,  as 
well  as  to  activity  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Brick^  with  an  aver- 
age annual  output  for  a  number  of  years  worth  approximately  $2,000,- 
000,  had  difficulty  in  holding  its  own,  due  to  the  popularity  of  cement 
and  concrete.  In  1920^  however,  the  sales  increased  to  nearly  double 
the  previous  record  figure  of  the  year  1906.  This  item  will,  no  doubt, 
continue  to  be  an  important  one,  and  of  course  a  market  for  fire  and 
fancy  brick  of  all  kinds  will  never  be  lacking. 

Fifty-four  counties  contributed  to  this  structural  total  for  1920,  and 
there  is  not  a  county  in  the  state  which  is  not  capable  of  some  output  of 
at  least  one  of  the  materials  under  this  classification. 


I 


84 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  table  gives  the  comparative  figures  for  the  amounts 
and  value  of  structural  materials  produced  in  California  during  the 
years  1919  and  1920: 


Substance 


Bituminous  rock 

Brick  and  tile 

Cement 

Chromite 

Granite 

Lime   

Magnesite  

Marble   

Sandstone 

Miscellaneous  stone 


Total  value- 
Net    increase 


1919 


Amount 


4,614  tons 


4,615,289  bbls. 
4,314  tons 


420,696  bbls. 
44,696  tons 
25,020  cu.  ft , 
5,400  cu.  It. 


Value 


3,087 

8,591 

97 

220 

5.2 

452 

74 

3 

3,698 


,537 
,067 
,990 
164 
743 
043 
,091 
,482 
,720 
,944 


1920 


5,450  tons 


Value 


6,709,160  bbls. 
1,770  tons 

463,144"bbis"" 
83,695  tons 
29,531  cu.  ft. 
10,500  cu.  ft. 


$27,825 
,7(}4,3!>3 
,962,945 

43,031 
495,732 
557,282 
,033,491 

92,899 

2,300 

,803,557 


i,796,784    $29,723,405 


Decrease — 

IncreaseH- 

Value 


$9,288+ 

2,617,323+ 

6,370,955+ 

54,133— 

•274,<:89+ 

5,189+ 

581,397+ 

18,417+ 

1,420— 

3,104,613+ 


$12,926,621  + 


ASPHALT. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
Bulletins  16,  32. 

Asphalt  was  for  a  number  of  years  accounted  for  in  reports  by  the 
State  Mining  Bureau,  because  in  the  early  days  of  the  oil  industry 
considerable  asphalt  was  produced  from  outcroppings  of  oil  sand,  an 
was  a  separate  industry  from  the  production  of  oil  itself.     Howeve 
at  the  present  time  most  of  the  asphalt  comes  from  the  oil  refineries] 
which  produce  a  better  and  more  uniform  grade ;  hence,  its  value  is  no' 
now  included  in  the  mineral  total,  as  to  do  so  would  be  a  partial  dupli 
cation  of  the   crude  petroleum  figures.     Such  natural  asphalt  as  is 
at  present  mined  is  in  the  form  of  bituminous  sandstones,  and  is  recorded 
under  that  designation. 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  the  war  stimulated  activity 
in  the  domestic  markets  for  asphaltic  materials  derived  from  crude 
petroleum  and  for  imported  asphalt,  but  relative  abundance  and  adapt- 
ability of  those  materials  has  lessened  the  demand  for  the  native  bitu- 
mens and  for  the  various  types  of  bituminous  rock  produced  in  this 
country. 

The  production  of  refinery  asphalt,  from  16  refineries  in  California, 
amounted  to  256,000  tons,  in  1920,  worth  approximately  $2,500,000. 
This  is  a  slight  increase  over  the  average  for  several  years  past.     Call 
fornia  leads  all  other  states  of  the  Union  in  such  production,  as  her 
crude  oils  are  almost  entirely  of  asphaltic  base. 


STATISTICS   OF  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


85 


BITUMINOUS  ROCK. 
Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XV. 

The  manufacture  of  asphalt  at  the  oil  refineries  has  almost  eliminated 
the  industry  of  raining  bituminous  rock,  but  small  amounts  of  the  latter 
are  still  used  occasionally  for  road  dressing.  The  production  during 
1920  from  quarries  in  Santa  Cruz  and  Santa  Barbara  counties  was 
5,450  tons,  valued  at  $27,825,  compared  with  4,614  tons  and  $18,537 
in  1919. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the  total  amount  and  value  of 
bituminous  rock  quarried  and  sold  in  California,  from  the  records 
compiled  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  annually  since  1887 : 


T«ar 

Tons    1 

i 

Value 

Te»r 

Toiu 

YalM 

1887 

1888 

1889  

: 

36.000 
50.000 
40.000 
40,000 
39.962 
24.000 
32.000 
31.214 
38.921 
49,456 
45,470 
46.836 
40.331 
25.306 
24.052 
33.490 
21.944 
45.280 

$160,000 

257.000 

170,000 

170,000 

154,164 

72.000 

192.036 

115.193 

121.586 

122,500 

128,173 

137,575 

116,097 

71.495 

66.354 

43.411 

53.106 

175.680 

1905 

1906 

1907 

24.753 

16.077 

24.122 

30.718 

34.123 

87,547 

75.125 

44.073 

37.541 

66.119 

17,785! 

19.449 

5.590 

2.561 

4.614 

5.450 

S60.436 
45.204 
72,835 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1908 

1909 

1910 

109.818 
116.436 
165.711 

1893 

1911 

117.279 

1894 

1912 

87,467 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1913 

1914 

1915  -_. 

1916  

78,479 

166.618 

61.468 

1898 

66.561 

1899 

1900  .— : 

1901 

1902 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

18.580 

9.06? 

185rt7 

27,825 

1903 

Totals.    

1904 

1,159,903 

$3,518,691 

BRICK  and  TILE. 
Bihliography:    Reports     XIV,     XV.     Bulletin     38.     Preliminary 
Report,  No.  7. 

As  would  be  expected  in  a  state  with  diversified  and  widespread 
mineral  resources,  a  great  variety  of  brick  is  annually  produced  in 
California,  including  common,  fire,  pressed,  glazt-J,  sand-lime,  and 
others.  As  far  as  possible  the  different  kinds  have  ..oen  segregated  in 
the  following  tabulation.  We  also  include  under  this  heading  the 
various  forms  of  hollow  building  'tile'  or  blocks,  instead  of  under 
indu.strial  pottery  clays  as  in  the  reports  previous  to  1915. 

Tbo  clay  iiuhLstries  throughout  the  country  were  adversely  affected 
by  the  war-time  restrictions  on  building  operations,  and  i)articularly 
during  1918  by  a  50%  cut  in  their  fuel  and  power  allowances  by  the 
Federal  Fuel  Administrator.  That  they  have  largely  recovered  from 
that  condition,  is  .shown  by  comparison  of  the  1919  and  1920  figures 
with  those  of  previous  years.  The  total  value  of  the  1920  product  is 
nearly  double  the  previous  record  figure  of  the  year  1906. 


86 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


87 


be 


&c 


J3 


p         w 


o 

q: 

>, 

o 

rO 

IL 

^ 

7 

o 

o 

as 

1- 

tH 

o 

S^ 

3 

O 

Q 

<4-l 

O 

o 

Q. 

-(.^ 

UJ 

V 

1 

'p, 

P 

O 

Q 

Ph 

Z 

< 

<v 

r^H 

^ 

-M 

o 

'^ 

cr 

a 

m 

CS 

2? 

1 

S 

1 

3 

> 

.M  CO  rt           O  -^  1-1                                      1   ^ 

i  i  i  ifss  i        i  i  i^ 

S 

aj 

1     1     1     1  V».  ^     1               1     1     1  35 

is< 

to 

_2 

1    1    1   ;  00"  ^^  j          1   1   1 5j' 

iO 

5^ 

k 

I    1    1    ]  S  c^    I            I    1    1  ^ 

e«- 

=  S 

lilt          1          III 

1        1        1       1  05  ?0        1                       1       1        1   CD 

^ 

JtH  *^ 

S 

j    I    ;    ]  M  (M    1            111"* 

§ 

ao  •^     1     1 00     1     !              1     1  r~     1 
SS    !    !R    !    !            1    IS    1 

-^ 
fe 

■o? 

2 

ss  i  i?5  !  !        !  is  i 

s 

gg^ 

> 

e^iH     I     1  M     !     !                11           1 

1     a>  *^ 

(-.•« 

■73  ^ 

T-H    ,-1         1         1    1^         1         1                            I         1    I-         1 

^ 

Sis 

00  CM      1      1  iM      1      1                 1      1  :^      1 

3w 

IQ  CO       1       1  IM_      1       1                     '       'i  '1       1 
(>r  C^      1       J  CO       J       J                     1       '  "-1       1 

of 

5 

s 

1—1 

1  00         1        1   tH   1^        1                         1   1-1         1        1 

t- 

a. 

1  OO       1        1  -ti   1^        1                       1  CM        1       1 
1   >0       1       1  05  CO       1                     1  ■T<       1       1 

s 

3 

1  i-T    1     1  -H  ic     !              I  to 

to 

1^ 

lo          1^  to                 -r    1    1 

1                 ]        I   -!•   "M        1                          1^11 

1—1 

£ 

i^ 

►M 

1  '^<      1      1  1^  OO      1                  1  1^      1      1 

1  I--     1     1  lO  5^     1              1  -r     1     1 

s 

3 

[■^     \     'i\^:     \              1  ~-     1     1 

o 

2»^- 

lo 

< 

1-1 

ssJgss  is      5J  i  i  i 

O  t^  t^  'o  (S     1  CD             ""1     '      '      ' 

3 

CO  ic  S  »o  S     1  CO             do     ,'     [     ] 

s' 

C 

1-1 1-1  1-1       lA       1-1            "* 

l^* 

««•            ^-   1                  I    1    i 

=a 

2 

6©- 

S 

C 

CO  CO  t--  Q  O       1  O                 -^       1       1       1 

■n<  1-1  ^  i5  t^     1  ®            CIO     1     1     1 

S 

3.  . 

1-1  35  lO  00  oo     1  00            r^     1     1     1 

§^ 

05  O  CM  CO  ■-H       ]  i-I'                 i-£      j       I       ] 

S: 

r-t  T^       ^     1  1-1           CO     I     ]     ; 

(Si 

■< 

'"' 

.'  !  i  !  i   1  I  «  53  I  1  1  I 

1  1  1   1  1  ^  f-i  1  1  1 » 

cccil*      iQ 

1      1     'i      1      1      1      1      -  -P     1  «>     !   5>fl 

II <u52i^i'*> 

1    I     1     1     1     1     1  ''^  5     1  *    1  r^ 

i   i   1   1    1   1   l?35   IH   ;« 

i  1  i  i  :  1  is«  i.S  i"i 

1     I     1     1     1     1     1        «2     1   3     i  O 

1     1     1     1     .     .     1  oT    -    1  C    1  "lii 

1     1     1     1     1            tifi  °        =3        o 

1    1    1    1    1    1    1  c  '3    1  o    1  Ji 

^ 

1       1       1       1       1       1       1    =S    O"      1  '^       t    ^ 

iiOS'l=5i^ 
1     ,     1     1     1     1     1  '-^  O     1  as     1  o 

B 
3 
O 

u 

1     I     1     1      1     1         _-  "^        W        03 

i  i  i  i  i  i  i-S«  i^-  1^ 
i  i  i  i  i  i  12^  is  is 

1         1         1         1         1         1         1    l-H         .        1     S3         1     O 

^  bfl      Ph       jri 
llllllloJol          IPh 

1    1     1    I     1    1    1  -r  •—  *    u  * 

:  i  1  i  i  i  il^i^lS 

I  O    1    1  a;      «  -M-  o      ^  •-  ^ 

«^     !     ^^02^:3«««- 

m 

03 

O 

0) 
O  t- 

^•^ 

a^S  . 

—  "  tn 

.E  <^'n 

to  '-i  o 

rf  «  o 
.-  rt  m 

«  m  O 

*^  c  F  o 
:=  u;    •;; 

3  £  S  n^, 
O  P     ,  0' 

o  5  t^c 
o  c  •- 


E^^2S 
■§2.2  3 

®  C  C  - 


88 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNL.\. 


Kecord  of  brick  production  in  the  state  has  been  kept  since  1893  by 
this  Bureau,  the  figures  for  building  tile  being  also  included  since  1914. 
The  annual  and  total  figures,  for  amount  and  value,  are  given  in  the 
following  table : 


1893  . 

1894  . 

1895  . 
189P  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 
]&%   . 
190C  . 
1901  . 
1902 
19a^  . 
190^  , 
19C5 
190(.  . 
1907  , 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
191f; 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


Totals 5,945,539 


103,900 
81,675 
131,772 
24,000 
97,468 
100,102 
125,950 
137,191 
130,766 
169,8.51 
214,403 
281,750 
286,618 
277,762 
362,167 
332,872 
333,846 
340,883 
327,474 
337,233 
358,754 
270,791 
180,538 
206.960 
192,269 
136,374 
156.328 
245,842 


Building 

blocks, 

tons 


29,348 
34,818 
36.026 
99.208 


$801, 

457, 

672, 

.524, 

563, 

571. 

7.54, 

905, 

860, 

1,306, 

1,999, 

1,994, 

2,273, 

2,538, 

3,4.38, 

2.506, 

3,059, 

2.934, 

2,638, 

2,940, 

2.915, 

2, 

1.678 
2.096, 
2,532 
2.363 
3.087 
5,704 


7.50 
125 
360 
740 
240 
362 
7.30 
210 
488 
215 
546 
740 
786 
848 
,951 
,495 
,929 
,731 
,121 
,290 
..350 
,227 
,7.56 
,570 
721 
.481 
067 
,.393 


199,400  i    $56,409,222 


CEMENT. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VIII,  IX,   XII, 
XV.     Bulletin  38. 


XIV, 


Cement  is  one  of  the  most  important  structural  materials  in  the  out- 
put of  the  state.  During  1920  there  was  produced  a  total  of  6,709,160 
barrels,  valued  at  $14,962,945,  being  a  50  per  cent  increase  in  quantity, 
and  a  70  per  cent  increase  in  value,  over  the  1919  figures.  This 
exceeds,  both  in  quantity  and  value,  the  record  production  of  1911. 
This  output  comes  from  nine  operating  plants  in  seven  counties.  The 
features  of  the  1920  production  are  the  increa.sed  average  price,  per 
barrel,  and  the  return  to  the  operating  list  of  the  Monolith  plant,  in 
Kern  County.  This  plant,  owned  by  the  City  of  Los  Angeles,  is  under 
lease  to  the  United  States  Potash  Company.  The  average  value,  re- 
ported, increased  from  $1.85  per  barrel,  in  1919,  to  $2.23  in  1920. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


89 


Several  of  the  cement  plants  have  recovered  potash-bearing  materials 
as  by-products,  notably:  The  Riverside  Portland  Cement  Company, 
Riverside  County;  California  Portland  Cement  Company,  and  South- 
western Portland  Cement  Company,  San  Bernardino  County;  Santa 
Cruz  Portland  Cement  Company,  Santa  Cruz  County.  The  first-named 
was  the  pioneer  in  this  work. 

The  cement  industry  is  so  centralized  that  it  is  not  possible  to  appor- 
tion the  production  to  the  counties  in  which  plants  are  located  without 


Concrete  bridge  on  the   State   Highway  near  Placerville,   California. 

making  private  business  public.  With  the  exception  of  San  Bernar- 
dino, no  county  has  more  than  one  cement  plant.  The  three  operating 
plants  in  San  Bernardino  County,  in  1920,  made  a  total  of  1,681,283 
barrels,  valued  at  $3,051,079;  the  balance  coming  from  a  .single  plant 
in  each  of  the  following  counties:  Contra  Costa,  Kern,  Riverside,  San 
Benito,  Santa  Cruz  and  Solano. 

'Portland'  cement  was  first  connuercially  produced  in  the  state 
in  1891;  though  in  1860  and  for  several  years  following,  a  natural 
hydraulic  cement  from  Benicia  was  utilized  in  building  operations  in 
San  Franci.sco.  While  the  total  figures  are  not  of  the  same  magnitude 
as  those  for  gold  and  petroleum,  the  growth  of  the  industry  ha.s  been 
more  than  rapid,  and  a  comparison  of  the  annual  figures  representing 
the  output  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  is  of  interest.    It  may  be 


90 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


noted,  however,  that  the  value  of  California  cement  for  1920  exceeded 
the  value  of  the  gold  output  for  the  same  period. 

According  to  reports  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  California 
ranked  third  as  a  cement  producer  in  1920,  being  surpassed  by  Pennsyl- 
vania with  28,365,000  barrels,  and  Indiana  with  10,700,000  barrels. 

Annual  production  of  cement  in  California  has  been  as  follows : 


1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 


5,000 
5.000 


8,000 

16,383 

9.500 

18,000 

50,000 

60,000 

52,000 

71,800 

171,000 

640.868 

969,538 

1,265,553 

1.286,000 


$15,000 
15,000 


21.600 

32.556 

28.250 

66.000 

150.000 

180.000 

121.000 

159.842 

423,600 

968.727 

1.539.807 

1,791.916 

1.941.250 


1907 1,613,563 

1908 1  1,629,615 

1909 J  3,779,205 

1910 5,453.193 

1911 6.371.369 

1912 I  6.198,634 

1913 I  6,167,806 

1914 5,109.218 

1915 J  4.918.275 

1916 ]  5.299.507 

1917 5.790.734 

1918 J  4.772.921 

1919 '  4.645.289 

1920 I  6,709,160 


$2..58.5,577 
2,359.692 
4.969.437 
7.485.715 
9.085.625 
6.074,661 
7.743,024 
6.558,148 
6.044.950 
6.210.293 
7.544.282 
7.969,909 
8.591.990 

14,962,945 


Totals 73,087,131  $105,640,796 


CHROMITE. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.  Bulletins  38,  76.  Preliminary  Report  3,  U.  S.'  G.  S.,  Bull. 
430.     Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  114,  p.  552. 

Chromic  iron  ore,  or  chromite,  to  the  amount  of  1668  short  tons 
of  all  grades  (or  1770  tons,  recalculated  to  a  ba,sis  of  45%  Cr203), 
valued  at  $43,031  f.  o.  b.  shipping  point,  was  sold  in  California  during 
the  year  1920.  There  are  still  on  the  ground,  mined  in  1918  but  not 
sold,  various  lots  of  ore  throughout  the  chrome  districts  of  the  state, 
aggregating  several  thousand  tons,  which  have  not  been  shipped  owing 
to  the  radical  drop  in  price  and  demand,  following  the  close  of  the 
war  late  in  1918.  The  above  amount  sold  in  1920  is  but  a  fraction  of 
the  73,955  tons  of  all  grades,  valued  at  $3,649,497  shipped  in  1918, 
and  less  than  one-half  of  the  1919  figure.  There  were  24  shippers,  or 
producers,  in  1919,  as  compared  with  236  in  1918,  who  shipped,  individ- 
uall}',  amounts  varying  from  a  few  tons  to  6000  tons.  In  1920,  there 
were  but  13  .shippers,  in  seven  counties. 

Chromite  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  the  principal  produc- 
tion, thus  far,  having  come  from  El  Dorado,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Del  Norte, 
Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Placer,  Fresno,  and  Tuolumne  counties.  In  1918 
a  total  of  29  counties  contributed  to  the  state's  output. 


STATISTICS   OP  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  91 

Economic    Conditions. 

Chromite  is  one  of  several  of  California's  minerals  most  affected  by 
the  economic  conditions  brought  about  by  the  European  war.  The 
major  portion  of  our  domestic  requirements  for  chrome  is  for  eon- 
sumption  in  the  steel  mills  of  the  East.  Formerb^,  most  of  that  used 
was  imj)orted  from  Rhodesia  and  New  Caledonia,  and  they  are  still, 
with  the  addition  of  India,  the  more  important  sources.  The  reports 
of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce  show  the  foreign  imports  of 
chromic  iron  for  the  seven  years  1913-1920  (inc.)  to  have  been  49,772; 
75,455 ;  115,886 ;  72,063 ;  100,142 ;  61,404  and  150,275  long  tons,  respec- 
tively. The  average  price  of  imports  in  1920  was  $12.85  per  ton. 
Similarly  to  conditions  discussed  herein  under  manganese  (see  ante), 
the  increased  demand  for  steel  products  also  increased  the  necessity 
for  chromite  as  a  refractory  and  for  the  preparation  of  ferro-chrome. 
Our  own  domestic  sources  supplied  a  part  of  the  increased  demand. 

According  to  Dolbear,^ 

"to  be  readily  sa'able  chrome  ore  should  contain  at  least  40%  chromic  oxide  (CroQs) 
and  less  than  8%  si'ica  (SiOM).  Some  ore  is  sold  which  carries  not  more  than  30% 
Cr-O.T ;  sometimes  SiOc  as  high  as  10%  to  15%  is  permitted.  Ore  containing-  40% 
CrsOa  is  more  satisfactory  in  fire  brick  manufacture  than  30%  or  50%  ore.  When 
other  grades  are  purchased  they  are  sometimes  crushed  and  mixed  with  higher  or 
lower  grades,  as  may  be  reijuired,  to  secure  a  40%  product." 

The  major  consumption  of  chromic  ore  is  for  its  use  as  a  refrac- 
tory lining  in  smelting  furnaces  for  steel  and  copper.  A  smaller  portion 
is  used  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-chrome  for  chrome-steel  alloys. 
Some  of  the  California  product  in  1916-1918  was  converted  into  ferro- 
chrome  in  the  electric  furnaces  of  the  Noble  Electric  Steel  Company  at 
Heroult,  Cal.,  and  some  of  it  was  similarly  reduced  in  electric  furnaces 
at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  A  small  amount  of  high-grade  ore  was  utilized 
in  preparation  of  ehromates  for  tanning. 

A  report,  designated  as  Bulletin  No.  76,  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau, 
was  issued  in  1918,  giving  a  detailed  account  of  California's  resources 
in  both  manganese  and  chromite. 

The  War  Mineral  Relief  Conimi.ssion  is  still  working  on  the  adjust- 
ment of  claims  for  chromite  mined  in  1917-1918,  but  the  law  as  at 
present  worded  is  too  restricted.  An  amendment  to  the  Dent  Bill 
(II.  R.  13274)  luis  been  introduced  in  Congress  to  permit  of  a  more 
liberal  interpretation  in  the  consideration  of  claims. 

Occurrence. 

Until  1916,  when  some  shipments  were  made  from  Oregon  and  smaller 
amounts  from  ^Maryland,  Wyoming  and  Washington,  practically  our 
only  domestic  production  of  chromite  for  many  years  came  from  Cali- 
fornia.    From  1820  to  1860  the  deposits  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 


'Dolbear,  S.  H.,  Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  April  21,  1917,  p.  554. 


92  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA, 

supplied  the  world's  eonsuniption.  There  are  two  main  belts  in  Cali- 
fornia yielding  this  mineral, — one,  along  the  Coast  Ranges  from  San 
Luis  Obispo  County  to  the  Oregon  line,  including  the  Klamath  Moun- 
tains at  the  north  end,  and  the  other  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  from  Tulare 
County  to  Plumas  County.  Chromite  occurs  as  lenses  in  basic  igneous 
rocks  such  as  peridotite  and  pyroxenite,  and  in  serpentines  which  have 
been  derived  by  alteration  of  such  basic  rocks.  For  the  most  part,  so 
far  as  developments  have  yet  shown,  the  lenses  have  proven  to  be  small, 
relatively  few  of  them  yielding  over  100  tons  apiece.  A  notable  excep- 
tion to  this  was  the  deposit  on  Little  Castle  Creek  near  Dunsmuir,  from 
which  upwards  of  15,000  tons  was  shipped  before  it  was  exhausted. 
Deposits  worked  in  Del  Norte  County  during  1918  promised  well  for 
a  large  tonnage.  On  the  wliole  the  orebodies  in  the  northwestern 
corner  of  the  state  appear  to  average  larger  in  size  than  the  chromite 
lenses  in  other  parts  of  California. 

Concentration  became  an  aeeomplished  fact  in  several  localities,  thus 
utilizing  some  of  the  disseminated  and  lower-grade  orebodies  which 
have  been  found.  In  fact,  an  important  part  of  the  1918  production 
came  from  this  source ;  likewise  in  1919-1920. 

Prices  and    Production. 

During  1920  the  prices  in  California  on  the  basis  of  45%  chromic 
oxide  ranged  from  $20  to  $30  per  ton  f.  o.  b.,  with  a  premium  for 
higher  grades  and  deductions  for  lower.  The  producers'  reports  to 
the  State  Mining  Bureau  indicate  an  average  of  approximately  $25.70 
per  ton  received  for  all  grades  for  the  year  as  against  $23.50  in  1919 ; 
$49.35  in  1918;  $21.60  in  1917,  and  $14.65  in  1916.  For  the  eastern 
buyer,  to  these  prices  freight  charges  of  $11  to  $16  per  ton,  had  to  be 
added.  For  the  present  year  (1921)  practically  no  ore  has  been 
moving. 

The  distribution  of  the  1920  product,  by  counties,  was  as  follows, 
the  tonnage  being  recalculated  to  45%  Cr„03: 

Coimty  '        Tons        I       Value 

Lake   

Placer 

San  Luis  Obispo 

Siskiyou  

Del  Norte,  El  Dorado,  Mendocino* 


Totals. 


&4 

$1,560 

390 

7,985 

399 

10,440 

215 

5,732 

682 

17,314 

1,770 

$43,031 

*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Total   Chromite  Production   of  California. 

Production  of  chromite  in  California  began,  apparently,  about  1874, 
principally  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County.  There  was  considerable 
activity  from  1880  to  1883,  inclusive,  and  a  total  of  23,238  long  tons 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


93 


(or  26,028  short  tons),  valued  at  $329,924  was  shipped  from  that  county 
up  to  the  beginning  of  1887.  Some  ore  also  was  shipped  from  the  Tyson 
properties  in  Del  Norte  County.  The  tabulation  herewith  shows  the 
output  of  chromite  in  California,  annually,  including  the  earliest  figures 
so  far  as  the}'-  are  available.  The  figures  from  1887  to  date  are  from 
the  records  of  the  State  jMining  Bureau : 


1874-1886    (San   Luis 

Obispo  Co.) 

1887 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
U)03 


28.028 
3,000 
1,500 
2,000 
3,599 
1,372 
1,500 
3,319 
3,680 
1.740 
786 


$329,924 
40,000 
20,000 
30,000 
53,985 
20,. 580 
22,500 
49,785 
39.980 
16,795 
7,775 


140 
130 
315 

150 


1,400 
1,950 
4.725 
2,2.W 


1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


123 

$1,845 

40 

600 

317 

2,859 

302 

6,040 

350 

6.195 

436 

5,309 

749 

9,707 

935 

14,197 

1,270 

11,260 

1,180 

12,700 

1,517 

9,434 

3,725 

38,044 

48,943 

717,244 

52,370 

1.130.298 

73,955 

3,619,497 

*4.314 

97,164 

1.770 

43,031 

Totals 241,564     $6,397,623 


*Recalpiilated  to  45  per  cent  CraOs,  beginning  with  liHO. 


GRANITE. 

Bihliography  -.  State  I\Iineralogist  Reports  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38. 

In  the  reports  for  several  years  previous  to  1916  granite  was  treated 
as  a  subdivision  under  'Stone  Industry'  or  under  'Miscellaneous  Stone.' 
AVe  have  since  rearranged  the  subjects,  somewhat,  and  now  give  granite 
a  separate  heading,  as  had  previously  been  done  with  marble  and  sand- 
stone. Crushed  rock  and  paving  blocks  derived  from  granite  quarries 
are  continued  under  the  heading  of  'Miscellaneous  Stone.' 

The  output  of  granite,  particularly  for  building  and  ornamental 
purposes,  shoMs  a  falling  off  since  1914  from  earlier  annual  amounts. 
That  granite  is  not  used  more  is  probably  due  to  its  greater  cost  as 
compared  to  concrete  and  ornamental  brick  and  tile  for  buildings. 
From  1915  to  1919,  inclusive,  there  were  no  new  large  pieces  of  work 
undertaken.  Building  operations  of  all  kinds,  except  those  directly 
connected  with  war  contracts,  were  largely  su.spended.  The  1920 
figures  show  an  increase  over  those  for  1919. 


94 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


S5 
Si 


O  i-O  -H"  06 


s 


^  "^  ■::  ^ 

o  ^  »  S  2  2  ^"  S 


S 


n^ 

V 

u 

n 

n 

^^ 

0 

c 

^ 

oSS 


u 

" 

0 

a 

1  3 
1  '-' 

1  ^- 

3 

[    c3 

C 
1     0 

(D 

0 

to 

0 

<u 

*^ 

<G 

■a 

0) 

■J) 

c 

01 

Ti 

AJ 

T 

d 

0 

0 

n 

c; 

* 

u 

STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


95 


California  building  granites,  particularly  the  varieties  from  Raymond, 
]\Iadera  County,  and  Rocklin,  Placer  County,  are  unexcelled  by  any 
similar  stone  found  elsewhere. 

Granites  of  excellent  quality  for  building  and  monumental  purposes 
are  also  quarried  in  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties.  The  Fresno 
County  stone  is  a  dark,  hornblende  diorite,  locally  called  'black 
granite,'  whose  color  permits  of  a  fine  contrast  of  polished  and  unpol- 
ished surfaces,  making  it  particularly  suitable  for  monumental  and 
decorative  purposes.  There  is  also  a  similar  'black  granite'  in  Tulare 
County. 

In  so  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  granite  production  has  been 
segregated  in  the  following  table  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the 
product  was  put.  It  will  be  noted,  however,  that  a  portion  of  the 
output  has  been  entered  under  the  heading  'unclassified.'  This  is 
necessary  because  of  the  fact  that  some  of  the  producers  have  no  way 
of  telling  to  what  specific  use  their  stone  was  put  after  they  had 
quarried  and  sold  the  same  in  the  rough. 

The  value  of  granite  produced,  annually  since  1887,  has  been  as 
follows : 


Year 


Value 


1887  1  $150,000 

1888  57,000 

1889  :  1,329,018 

1890 1,200,000 

1891  1,300,000 

1892  1,000,000 

1893  531,322 

1894  228,816 

1895  224,329 

1896  201,0(M 

1897  188,024 

1898  147,732 

1899  141,070 

1900 295,772 

1901  519,285 

1902  255,239 

1903  678,670 

1904  467,472 


Value 


$353,837 
344.083 
373,376 
512,923 
376,834 
417,898 
355,742 
362,975 
981,277 
628,786 
227,928 
535.339 
221.997 
139.861 
220.743 
495,732 


$15,461,084 


LIME. 

Bibliographij :  Reports  XIV,  XV.     Bulletin  38. 

Lime  to  the  amount  of  463,144  barrels,  valued  at  $557,232,  was 
produced  by  nine  plants  in  seven  counties  during  1920,  as  compared 
with  420,696  barrels,  valued  at  $552,043  in  1919.  So  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  segregate  the  data,  this  figure  includes  only  such  lime  as 
is  used  in  building  operations.  That  utilized  in  sugar  making,  for 
smelter  flux,    and    as    a    fertilizer,    are    classified    under    'Industrial 


96 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Materials.'     That  consumed  in  cement  manufacture  is  included  in  the 
value  of  cement. 

Distribution  by  counties  is  shown  in  tlie  following  table: 


County 

Barrels 

Value 

Kern ..    _  _ 

76,395 
141,633 
245,116 

$106,733 

Santa  Cruz    __          ._    

202,908 

Plumas,  San  Bernardino,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Tuolumne*.- 

247,591 

Totals 

463,144 

$557,232 

I 


*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

For  table  of  production  by  years,  see  under  'industrial'  limestone,  post. 

In  March,  1921,  a  shipment  of  10,000  barrels  of  lime  from  Canada, 
valued  at  $24,544,  was  brought  into  California  through  the  port  of 
San  Francisco,  the  custom's  duty  being  very  low.  This  is  unusual,  but 
it  is  hoped  that  it  will  not  prove  the  forerunner  of  larger  consignments 
to  compete  with  our  local  industry.  California  has  ample  resources  of 
the  raw  material. 


MAGNESITE. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletins  355,  540.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  114,  p.  237.  "Magnesite" — Hearings  heiore  the  Comm.  on 
Ways  and  Means,  House  of  Repr.  on  H.  R.  5218,  June  16,  ITJ 
and  July  17,  1919. 

Occurrence. 

Magnesite  is  a  natural  carbonate  of  magnesium,  and  when  pure  con- 
tains 52.4%  COo  (carbon  dioxide)  and  47.6%  MgO  (magnesia).  It 
has  a  hardness  of  3.5  to  4.5,  and  specific  gravity  of  3  to  3.12.  It  is  both 
harder  and  heavier  than  calcite  (calcium  carbonate),  and  also  contain^ 
a  higher  percentage  of  CO2,  as  calcite  has  but  44%. 

Most  of  the  California  magnesite  is  comparatively  pure,  and  is  ordi- 
narily a  beautiful,  white,  fine-grained  rock  with  a  conchoidal  fracture 
resembling  a  break  in  porcelain.  The  Grecian  magnesite  is  largely  of 
this  character;  while  the  Austrian  varieties  usually  contain  iron  so  that 
they  become  brown  after  calcining.  The  Washington  magnesite,  one 
of  the  most  recent  developments,  resembles  dolomite  and  some  crys- 
talline limestones  in  physical  appearance.  Its  color  varies  througl 
light  to  dark  gray,  and  pink. 

In  California,  the  known  deposits  are  mostly  in  the  metamorphic 
rocks  of  the  Coast  Ranges  and  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  being  asso- 
ciated with  serpentine  areas.  The  notable  exceptions  are  two  sedi- 
mentary deposits,  one  at  Bissell  in  Kern  County,  and  one  at  Afton 
in  San  Bernardino  County.     Several  thousand  tons  have  been  shipped 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  97 

from  the  Bissell  deposit;  and  small  shipments  have  been  made  from  tlu^ 
Afton  property. 

The  Washington  deposits  are  stated  to  be  associated  with  extensive 
strata  of  dolomitic  limestones.  The  magnesite  there  appears  to  contain 
more  iron  than  most  of  the  California  mineral,  which  makes  it  desirable 
for  the  steel  operators.  However,  the  experience  of  the  past  four 
years  has  proven  that  several  California  localities  have  sufficient  iron 
in  their  magnesite  to  be  serviceable  in  the  steel  furnaces.  This  is  par- 
ticularly true  of  the  Refractory  Magnesite  Company's  mine  near  Preston 
in  Sonoma  County,  and  the  White  Hock  ]\Iine  at  Pope  Valley,  Napa 
County. 

Uses. 

The  principal  uses  at  the  present  time  include :  refractory  linings  for 
basic  open-hearth  steel  furnaces,  copper  reverberatories  and  converters, 
bullion  and  other  metallurgical  furnaces;  in  the  manufacture  of  paper 
from  wood  pulp ;  and  in  structural  work,  for  flooring,  wainscoting, 
tiling,  sanitary  kitchen  and  hospital  finishing,  etc.  In  connection  with 
building  work,  it  has  proven  particularly  efficient  as  a  flooring  for  steel 
railroad  coaches,  on  account  of  having  greater  elasticity  and  resilience 
than  'Portland'  cement.  For  refractory  purposes,  the  magnesite  is 
'dead  burned' — i.  e.,  all  or  practically  all  of  the  CO,  is  expelled  from 
it.  For  cement  purposes,  it  is  left  'caustic' — i.  e.,  from  5%  to  10%  of 
CO2  is  retained.  When  dry  caustic  magnesite  is  mixed  with  a  solution 
of  magnesium  chloride  (MgClo)  in  proper  proportions,  a  very  strong 
cement  is  produced,  known  as  oxychloride  or  Sorel  cement.  It  is  applied 
in  a  plastic  form,  which  sets  in  a  few  hours  as  a  tough,  seamless  surface. 

It  is  stated  that  some  metallic  magnesium  has  been  prepared  electro- 
lytically  at  Niagara  Falls,  from  magnesite  (see  also  Magnesium  Chloride, 
under  'Salines,'  post). 

For  refractory  purposes,  the  calcined  magnesite  is  largely  made  up 
into  bricks,  similar  to  fire-brick  for  furnace  linings.  It  is  also  used 
un-eonsolidated,  as  'grain'  magnesite.  For  such,  an  iron  content  is 
desirable,  as  it  allows  of  a  slight  sintering  in  forming  the  brick.  Dead- 
l)urned,  pure,  magnesia  cannot  be  sintered  except  at  very  high  tempera- 
tures ;  and  it  has  little  or  no  plasticity,  so  that  it  is  hard  to  handle.  Its 
]ilastieity  is  said  to  be  imjiroved  by  using  with  it  some  partly  calcined 
or  caustic  magnesite.  Heavy  pressure  will  bind  the  material  sufficiently 
to  allow  it  to  be  sintered. 

A  coating  of  crushed  magnesite  is  laid  on  hearths  used  for  heating 
steel  stock  for  rolling,  to  prevent  the  scale  formed  from  attacking  the 
fire-brick  of  the  hearth. 

7—12865 


98 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Imports,  and    Domestic   Production. 

Reports  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce 
show  imports  of  calcined  raagnesite  to  have  been  172,591  tons  in  1913 ; 
144,747  tons  in  1914;  and  63,347  tons  in  1915;  most  of  it  coming  from 
Austria-Hungary.  For  the  same  years,  the  production  of  crude  (about 
two  tons  of  crude  ore  required  to  jdeld  one  ton  of  the  calcined)  magne- 
site  in  California  (the  sole  producer  for  those  years,  in  the  United 
States)  was:  9,632  tons,  1913;  11,438  tons,  1914;  30,721  tons,  1915. 
For  1916  the  California  output  leaped  to  154,052  tons  of  crude  and  to  r 
209,648  tons  in  1917,  but  dropped  considerably  in  1918  and  1919. 
Shipments  were  begun  from  Washington  late  in  1916. 

The  Fordney   Tariff  Bill  now   before  Congress  places   a   duty   on 
magnesite,  which  it  is  hoped  will  enal)le  our  domestic  mines  to  operate. 


Scott,  fine-ore.  quicksilver  furnace  (at  right)  rebuilt  and  in  use  for  calcining 
magnesite  fines  at  Western  Magnesite  Development  Company  property,  Santa  Clara 
County,  Storage  bunkers  with  elevator  for  calcined  fines  in  center.  Four  vertical 
.stack  kilns  at  left,  for  burning  lump  ore.     Photo  by  courtesy  of  C.  S.  Maltby. 

Output  and  Value. 

In  considering  mineral  production  the  value  of  the  crude  material 
is  used  as  far  as  practicable.  Magnesite  presents  a  peculiar  example 
of  a  material  which  previous  to  1916  was  seldom  handled  on  the 
hiarket  in  the  crude  state.  It  is  mainly  calcined  and  ground  before 
being  considered  marketable.  From  2  to  2|  tons  of  the  crude  material 
are  mined  to  make  one  ton  of  the  calcined.  In  the  earlier  reports  an 
arbitrary  value  for  the  crude  material  at  the  mine  was  calculated  from 
the  above  on  the  basis  of  the  calcined  value,  there  having  been  very 
little  product  shipped  crude.  On  the  contrary,  however,  considerable 
tonnages  since  1916  have  been  shipped  in  the  crude  state,  contracted 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  99 

at  prices  ranging  from  $7  to  $3  7  per  ton,  f.o.b.  rail  points.  The 
rage  was  $13.20  per  ton,  for  1920.  This  is  the  basis  of  the  vahia- 
1  used  herein. 

The  production  of  crude  aiagnesite  in  California  during  the  year 
:0  totaled  83,695  tons,  valued  at  $1,033,491  f.o.b.  rail-shipping  point. 
IS  is  nearly  double  the  1919  output  of  44,696  tons  and  more  than 
ee  the  value  of  $452,094. 

'ome  magnesite  has  been  imported  from  eastern  Canada,  which  is 
-er  to  the  steel-producing  centers.  The  Canadian  magnesite,  though 
taining  an  objection al)le  percentage  of  lime,  was  used  during  the 
r  on  account  of  being  cheaper  and  nearer  at  hand.  Importations 
m  Austria  have  been  resumed  to  a  limited  extent. 
t  looks  as  if  the  main  hope  for  the  future  for  California  magnesite 

Si  in  the  development  of  the  plastic  business,  particularly  in  the 
itory  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  in  the  manufacture  of 
ractory  brick  to  be  utilized  mainly  by  the  copper  and  lead  smelters 
the  same  district.  It  is  possible  that,  after  ocean  shipping  has 
umed  its  normal  routes,  California  magnesite  may  be  sent  via  the 
nama  Canal  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard;  but,  on  account  of  our  higher 
)duction  costs,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  we  can  compete  with  the 
?cian  article  at  Atlantic  ports. 

B'  hree  plants  reported  making  refractory  brick  here  from  California 
gnesite  in  1920,  one  each  at  Porterville,  Los  Angeles,  and  RicTimond. 
ring  1917-1918,  the  output  of  the  Refractory  Magnesite  Company 
Treston,  Sonoma  County,  was  turned  into  bricks  at  the  plant  of  the 
)ckton  Fire  and  Enamel  Brick  Company,  at  Stockton.  The  mine 
^  closed  in  1919,  but  reopened  in  1920.  The  mineral  from  this 
perty  is  a  natural  ferro-magnesite  and  has  found  a  ready  market 
refractory  purposes.  That  from  the  White  Rock  ]\Iine  in  Napa 
mty  also  carries  some  iron. 

"NEEDS    FOR    STANDARDIZING    THE    DOMESTIC    PRODUCT.' 
'One  of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  success  of  Austrian  magnesite  has  been 
careful  standardization  of  the  finished  product  attained  only  by  careful  selection 
preparation    of    the    raw   material,    and    skillful    burning,    whereby    a   product    of 
form  quality  has  been  assured.      Uniformity  and  close  adherence  to  specifications 
loubttdly  have  been  important  factors  in  the  growth  of  both  Austrian  and  Grecian 
ness  in  the  United  States.     These  factors  are  called  to  the  attention  of  certain  of 
domestic  producers  because  laxity  on  the  part  of  a  few  of  them  in  these  respects 
caused  some  dissatisfaction  among  certain  domestic  consumers,  and  unfortunately- 
unsympathetic  attitude  toward  them,  at  the  present  time. 

'There  were  undoubtedly  extenuating  circumstances  during  the  war  period,  among 
ch  was  the  sudden  and  urgent  demand  cau.sed  by  the  complete  cutting  off  of  the 
jtrian  and  Grecian  product,  together  with  a  certain  degree  of  inexperience  in  the 
iness.  The  importance  to  our  own  producers  of  careful  selection  and  care  in  burn- 
can  not  be  over-emphasized  in  the  building  up  and  maintenance  of  the  domestic 
ustry,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  domestic  producers  are  alive  to  the  situation." 

'  Tn  1918,  for  the  first  time  since  Tulare  County  became  an  important 
)ducer  of  this  mineral,  it  was  surpassed  in  tonnage  output  for  the 


Phalen,  W.  C,  Magnesite.     In  "Excerpts  from  monthly  reports  on  minerals  investi- 
ions  in  the  Bureau  of  Mines,  Department  of  the  Interior,"  February,  1919. 


100 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


year,  l)iit  regained  the  lead  in  191!),  followed  l)^^  Santa  Clara  and  Nai 
counties,  respectively.  The  same  ranking  was  retained  in  1920.  Tl 
largest  individual  producer  in  1920  was  the  Western  Magnesia 
Development  Co.,  in  Santa  Clara  County,  operated  under  lease  1 
C.  S.  Maltby.  Approximately  32,000  tons  were  reported  as  shippi 
calcined,  representing  64,000  tons  of  crude  ore. 

Production  of  crude  magnesite  for  1920,  by  counties,  is  given  in  tl 
following  table,  with  total  crude  value : 


County 


Tons 


Value 


Fresno  

Santa  Clara 

Stanislaus  

Tulare    _. 

Napa,  San  Benito,  Sonoma*. 

Totals 


906 

26.612 

4,064 

35,305 

16,808 


83,695 


392,5 

39,-] 

394,1 

198,: 


$1,033,J 


'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Annual  production  of  magnesite  for  California,  amount  and  valu 
since  1887,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Tear 


Tons 

Value 

600 

$9,000 

1005 

60O 

9,000 

1906 

60O 

9,000 

1907 

600 

9,000 

1908 

1,500 

15,000 

1D09 

1,500 

15.000 

1910 

1,093 

10,930 

1911 

1,440 

10.240 

1912 

2.200 

17,000 

1913 

1,500 

11,000 

1014 

1,143 

13,671 

1915 

1,263 

19.075 

1916 

1,280 

18.480 

1917 

2,252 

19,333 

1918 

4,726 

43,057 

1919 

2,830 

20,655 

1920 

1,361 

20,515 

2,850 

9,298 

r 

Valtt*) 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


3, 

4, 

6 

10, 

1. 

16 

8, 

10 

9, 

11 

30, 

154, 

209, 

83, 

44, 

83, 


.933 
.032 
.405 
.582 
,942 
.570 
.858 
512 
632 
,438 
721 
0.52 
648 
974 
696 
695 


Totals 726,028 


$16.:! 
40,J| 
57,' 
80,1)1 
62,!) 

113,1  f 
67,-i 

105,:i 

77,1 « 

114,:) 

283, 

1,311,:! 

1,976,:  ■ 

803,  : 

452.'  i 

1,033, 1 


5,875,  ■' 


MARBLE. 

Bibliography.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  X 
Bulletin  38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  106. 

Marble  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  and  in  a  eonsideral  ■ 
variety  of  colors  and  grain.  During  1920,  the  production  amount 
to  29,531  cubic  feet,  valued  at  $92,899,  from  one  operator  in  In  > 
County,  and  two  in  Tuolumne.  This  shows  a  small  increase  both  i 
amount  and  value  from  the  previous  year.  This  is  considerably  beh',, 
what  might  be  considered  the  normal  output  of  former  years,  ail 
certainly  far  below  our  possibilities.     There  are  many  varieties  fou]| 


STATISTICS    OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


101 


in  California  suitable  for  all  purposes  of  construction  or  decoration. 
Among  the  latter  are  deposits  of  onyx  marble  of  beautiful  coloring. 
There  is  also  serpentine  marble  suitable  for  electrical  SAvitehboard  use. 
The  decrease  in  output  of  marble  in  recent  years  is  probably  due  in 
ipart  to  the  fact  that  foreign,  eastern  and  Alaskan  marbles  are  landed 
here  by  water  cheaper  than  much  of  our  local  stone  can  be  put  on  the 
imarket,  on  account  of  our  higher  labor  costs  and  transportation  difficul- 
ties, though  California  has  many  beautiful  and  serviceable  varieties. 


In  quarry  of  Columbia  Marble  Company  of  Columbia, 
Tuolumne  County,  showing  channeled  faces.  Photo  by  C.  A. 
Logan. 


102 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


It  is  also  due  in  part  to  the  general  curtailment  of  building  activit| 
during  the  war  period. 

Data  on  annual  production  since  1887,  as  compiled  by  the  Stat 
Mining  Bureau,  follows.  Previous  to  1894  no  records  of  amount  wei 
preserved : 


1887. 

1888. 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 


Value 


38,441 

14,864 

7,88<J 

4,102 

8,050 

9.682 

4.103 

2,945 

19.305 

84,624 

55,401 


$5,000 

5,000 

87,030 

80,000 

100.000 

115,000 

40,000 

98,326 

56,566 

32,415 

7,280 

23,594 

10,550 

6,891 

4,630 

37.616 

97,354 

94,208 


1905  . 

1906  . 

1907  , 

1908  , 

1909  . 
1910 
1911  . 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


Total  Aalue. 


Cubic  feet 


73,303 
31,400 
37,512 
18.653 
79,600 
18,960 
20,201 
27,820 
41,654 
25.436 
22,186 
25,954 
24,755 

*17,428 
2.5.020 

«29,531 


Tain*  ' 


$129,450 
75,800 

118,066 
47.665 

238,400 
50,200 
54.103 
74.120 

113,282 
48.832 
41,518 
50,280 
62.950 
49,898 
74,482 
92,899 


$2,222,405 


•Includes  onyx  and  serpentine. 
•Tndudes  onyx. 


ONYX  and  TRAVERTINE. 
Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,'  XIV.     Bi 
letin  38. 

Onyx  and  travertine  are  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places 
California,  but  there  has  been  no  production  reported  since  the  year 
1896,  except  1918  and  1920.  Some  stone  was  shipped  in  1918  and 
1920  from  the  Tolenas  Springs  onyx  marble  deposit  in  Solano  County, 
and  utilized  for  decorative  purposes.  As  there  was  but  a  single  opera- 
tor, the  figures  have  been  combined  with  those  of  the  marble  output. 
There  are  prospects  of  increased  production  for  1921,  as  development 
work  is  under  way  on  deposits  in  Kern  and  Mono  counties. 

Production  by  years  was  as  follows : 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 


900 

900 

1,500 

2,400 

1.800 

27,000 


1894  $20,000 

1895  I  12.000 

1896  '  24,000 

1918 I  * 

1919  * 

19-20  * 

Total $91,400 


•See  under  Marble. 


I 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


103 


SANDSTONE. 
Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  124'. 

An  unlimited  amount  of  high-grade  sandstone  is  available  in  Cali- 
fornia, but  the  wide  use  of  concrete  in  buildings  of  every  character, 
as  well  as  the  popularity  of  a  lighter-colored  building  stone,  has  cur- 
tailed production  in  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  during 
recent  years  almost  to  the  vanishing  point.  In  1920  two  counties — 
Santa  Barbara  and  Ventura — turned  out  10,500  cubic  feet,  valued  at 
$2,300,  compared  with  5,400  cubic  feet  and  $3,720  in  1919.  This  is 
considerably  less  than  former  years.  The  main  feature  of  the  loss 
since  1914  is  the  closing  of  the  well-known  Colusa  quarries,  on  account 
of  the  competition  of  lighter-colored  materials. 

Amount  and  value,  so  far  as  contained  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau, 
are  presented  herewith,  with  total  value  from  1887  to  date: 


Tear 


Cublo  feet 


1887 I 

1888 ! 

1889 

1890 I- 

1891 ' 

1892 j— . 

1893 

1894 I 

1895 ._....-. 

1896 

1897 I 

1898 

1899 '       56,264 

1900 378,468 

1901 266,741 

1902 212,123 

1903 — -   353.002 

1904 !  363,487 


Tear 


Cubic  feet 


Value 


$175,000 

150,000 

175,598 

100,000 

100,000 

50,000 

26,314 

113,592 

35.373 

28,379 

24,086 

46,384 

103,384 

254,140 

192,132 

142.506 

585,309 

567,181 


1905 302,813 

1906 182,076 

1907 -  159,573 

1908 93.301 

1909 79,240 

1910 165,971 

1911 255,313 

1912 ;  66,487 

1913 62,227 

1914 111,691 


1915 
1916 

1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


63,350 

17,270 

31,090 

900 

5,400 

10,500 


Total  value- 


$483,26S 

164,068 

148,148 

55.151 

37,032 

80,443 

127,314 

22,574 

27,870 

45,322 

8.438 

10.271 

7.074 

400 

3,720 

2,300 


$4,092,771 


Bibliography ; 


SERPENTINE. 
Report  XV.     Bulletin  38. 


Serpentine  has  not  been  produced  in  California  to  a  very  large  extent 
at  any  time.  A  single  depo.sit,  that  on  Santa  Catalina  Island,  has 
yielded  the  principal  output  to  date.  Some  material  was  shipped  from 
there  in  1917  and  1918,  being  the  first  recorded  .since  1907.  It  was  used 
for  decorative  building  purposes  and  for  electrical  switchboards.  As 
there  was  but  a  single  operator,  the  figures  were  combined  with  those  of 
marble  output  for  those  j'ears. 


104 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  table  shows  the  amount  and  value  of  serpentine  from 
1895  as  recorded  by  this  Bureau: 


1895 4,000 

1896 1,500 

1897 2,500 

1898 750 

1899 500 

1900 350 

1901 89 

1902 512 

1903 99 

'Under  'Unapportioned.' 
^See  under  Marble. 


$4,000  1904 200  $2,31C 

6.000  1905 _ 

2,500  1906 - ,  847  |  1.694 

3.000  1907 1,000  8.000 

2,000  1917.. ^  » 

2,000  1918 «  • 

890  1919 

5.fi6.5 

800  Totals 12,347  i        $33,259 


SLATE. 

BihliograpJnj:     Eeport  XV.     Bulletin   38. 

Slate  was  first  produced  in  California  in  1889.  Up  to  and  including 
1910  such  production  was  continuous,  but  there  has  been  none  since, 
except  in  1915,  and  a  small  amount  in  1920.  Large  deposits  of  excel- 
lent quality  are  known  in  the  state,  especially  in  El  Dorado,  Calaveras 
and  ]\Iariposa  counties,  but  the  demand  has  been  light  owing  prin- 
cipally to  competition  of  cheaper  roofing  materials. 

A  square  of  roofing  slate  is  a  sufficient  number  of  pieces  of  any  size 
to  cover  100  square  feet  of  roof,  with  allowance  generally  for  a  three- 
inch  lap.  The  size  of  the  pieces  of  slate  making  up  a  square  ranges 
from  7x9  inches  to  16  x  24  inches,  and  the  number  of  pieces  in  a 
square  ranges  from  85  to  686.  It  is  worth  $3.50  to  $10  per  square,  f .o.b. 
quarry,  depending  on  quality.  The  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  is 
roofed  with  Eureka  slate  from  El  Dorado  County. 

A  complete  record  of  amount  and  value  of  slate  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia follows: 


Tear 

Squares 

Value 

Tear 

Squares 

Value 

1889    

4.500 

4,000 

'        4,000 

3,500 

3.000 

1,800 

1,350 

500 

$18,089 
24,000 
24.000 
21.000 
21.000 
11,700 
9.450 
2.500 

19ft3 

10.000 
6,000 
4,000 

10,000 
7,000 
6,000 
6,961 
1.000 

$70,000 

1890 

1904 

50.000 

1891 

1905      _-         -.    -    -. 

40,000 

1892 

1906        -      .    -.    

100,000 

1893 

1907 

60,000 

1894 

1895 

1908 -. 

1909    

60,000 
45,660 

1896 

1910 

8.000 

1897 400  2,800     1911 

1898 400  2,800     1915 

1899 810  5,900     1916 

1900 3,500  26,250     1920 

1901 5.100  38.250 

1902 I  4.000  I  30,000  Totals. 


1,000 


5,000 


88.829         $676,479 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  105 

MISCELLANEOUS  STONE. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 

•  Bulletin  38. 

'Miscellaneous  stone'  is  the  name  used  throughout  this  report  as  the 
title  for  that  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  covering  crushed  rock  of 
all  kinds,  paving  blocks,  sand  and  gravel,  and  pebbles  for  grinding 
mills.  The  foregoing  are  very  closely  related  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  producer.  Thus  it  has  been  found  to  be  most  satisfactory  to  group 
these  items  as  has  been  done  in  recent  reports  of  this  Bureau.  In  so 
far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  crushed  rock  production  has  been 
sul)divided  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  put.  It  will 
be  noted,  however,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  output  has  been 
tabulated  under  the  heading  'Unclassified.'  This  is  necessary  because 
of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what 
specific  use  their  rock  was  put  after  they  have  quarried  and  sold  the 
same. 

In  addition  to  amounts  produced  by  commercial  firms,  both  corpo- 
rations and  individuals,  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  state  but 
uses  more  or  less  gravel  and  broken  rock  on  its  roads.  Of  much  of 
this,  particularly  in  the  country  districts,  there  is  no  definite  record 
kept.  Estimates  have  been  made  for  some  of  this  output,  based  on 
the  mileage  of  roads  repaired. 

For  the  year  1920  miscellaneous  stone  shows  an  increase  of  nearly 
50  per  cent  in  tonnage,  and  of  85  per  cent  in  total  value  over  the 
preceding  year,  being  $6,803,557  as  compared  with  $3,698,944  for  1919. 
This  improvement  is  shared  by  all  classes  of  building  materials,  such 
as  cement,  bricks  and  other  clay  products,  as  well  as  stone.  The 
outlook  for  the  current  year,  1921,  is  encouraging,  as  highway  and 
other  construction  is  increasing. 

In  1920,  as  has  been  the  case  for  a  number  of  years  past,  Los 
Angeles  County  led  all  others  by  a  wide  margin,  with  an  output 
valued  at  $1,704,951;  followed  by  Alameda,  second,  with  $620,758; 
Fresno,  third,  $535,587;  Contra  Costa,  fourth,  $432,654;  San  Diego, 
fifth,  $334,847,  and  Riverside,  sixth,  $296,499. 

Paving    Blocks. 

The  paving  block  industry  has  decreased  materially  of  recent  years, 
almost  to  the  vanishing  point,  because  of  the  increased  construction  of 
smoother  pavements  demanded  by  motor-vehicle  traffic.  The  blocks 
made  in  Solano  County  were  of  basalt;  those  from  Sonoma  are  of 
basalt,  andesite,  and  some  trachyte,  while  those  from  Placer,  Riverside, 
San  Bernardino,  and  San  Diego  are  of  granite. 


106 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Production  in  1920  amounted  to  only  63  M.,  valued  at  $3,155,  from 
Riverside  and  Sonoma  counties. 

The  amount  and  value  of  paving  block  production  annually,  since 
1887  has  been  as  follows : 


Amount 
M. 


Amoitnt 
M. 


Valu* 


1887    *10,000 


1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


10,500 
7,303 
7,000 
5,000 

*3,000 
2,770 
2,517 
2,332 
4,161 
1.711 
},144 
305 
1,19? 
1,920 
3,502 
4,854 
3.977 


$350,000 

367.500 

297,236 

245,000 

150,000 

96,000 

96,950 

66,981 

73,338 

77,584 

35,235 

21,725 

7,861 

23,775 

41,075 

112,437 

134,642 

161,752 


1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 


4,203 

4,604 

7,660 

4,503 

4,434 

4,141 

11.018 

6,364 

6,053 

3,285 

1,322 

938 

372 

27 

63 


135,573 


$134,347 

173,432 

199,347 

334,780 

199,803 

198,916 

210,819 

578,355 

363,505 

270,598 

171,092 

54,362 

38,567 

17,000 

1,350 

3.155 


$5,308,519 


•Figures  for  1887-1892  (inc.)  are  for  Sonoma  County  only,  as  none  are  available 
for  other  counties  during  that  period ;  though  Solano  County  quarries  were  then  also 
quite  active. 

Grinding  Mill  Pebbles. 

Production  of  pebbles  for  tube  and  grinding  mills  began  commer- 
cially in  California  in  1915.  Owing  to  the  decreased  imports  and  higher 
prices  of  Belgium  and  other  European  fiint  pebbles,  there  was  a 
serious  inquiry  for  domestic  sources  of  supply.  One  of  the  shipments 
made  in  that  year  was  of  pebbles  selected  from  gold-dredger  tailings  in 
Sacramento  County,  for  use  in  a  gold  mill  in  Amador  County  employing 
Hardinge  mills. 

The  important  development  in  this  item,  however,  took  place  in  San 
Diego  County.  At  several  points  along  the  ocean  shore  from  Encinitas 
south  to  near  San  Diego,  there  are  beaches  of  washed  pebbles  varying 
from  1  inch  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  which  come  from  conglomerate 
beds  made  up  of  well-rounded  water-worn  pebbles  of  various  granitic 
and  porphyritic  rocks  with  some  felsite  and  flint.  The  wave  action  has 
broken  down  portions  of  the  cliffs  for  considerable  distances  and  formed 
beaches  of  the  pebbles  which  are  well  Avashed  and  cleaned  of  the 
softer  materials.  The  rocks  sorted  out  for  shipment  are  mainly  basalt 
and  diabase,  with  an  occasional  felsite  and  flint  pebble.  There  is  a 
tough  black  basalt  which  is  stated  to  give  satisfactory  results.  In 
Fresno  County  pebbles  have  been  selected  from  the  gravel  beds  of 
the  San  Joaquin  River  near  Friant.  Shipments  have  been  made  to 
metallurgical  plants  in   California,  Nevada,  Montana  and  Utah. 


I 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


107 


There  was  some  resumption  of  imports  in  1919,  amounting  to  17,677 
tons,  valued  at  $250,096,  increasing  to  23,782  tons  and  $338,630  in 
1920,  but  the  California  pebbles  still  continue  to  supply  a  part  of  the 
local  demand.  The  output  for  1920  was  2,104  tons,  valued  at  $17,988, 
all  from  San  Diego  County.  The  prices  varied  from  $8  to  $10  per  ton, 
f  .o.b.  shipping  point,  according  to  quality,  size  and  shape,  the  average 
being  $8.55  per  ton. 

The  amount  and  value  of  grinding  mill  pebbles,  annually,  follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1915  340 

1916  -  20,232 

1917  21,450 

1918 8,628 

191G  2.607 

1920  2,104 

Totals - 55,361 


$2,810 

107,567 

90,538 

61.268 

19.272 
17,988 


$299,443 


Sand   and   Gravel    Production,  by   Counties,  1920. 


County 


Tons 


Value 


Alameda  » "326,087  $205,264 

Contra  Costa 30,244  11,703 

Fresno 586,623  283,911 

Glenn   430,770  128.957 

Humboldt  156,342  133,290 

Imperial  149,980  59,312 

Inyo   575  1,040 

Kern   10,138  8,680 

Lake  26,400  13,200 

Lassen  13,0CO  4,130 

Los  Angeles ^,587,949  921,432 

Marin  43,4M  18,709 

Mariposa  500  200 

Mendocino    6,000  7,500 

.Merced 39.600  24,800 

Modoc   766  450 

Mono    1,000  1,000 

Monterey  ^22,966  75,056 

Napa 99,129  51,375 

Nevada   3,800  2,620 

Orange 40,260  26,988 

Plumas   "27,908  61,709 

Riverside  24,463  14,400 

San  Benito 28,000  '  10,250 

Sacramento  "260,039  140,990 


County 


Tons 


San  Bernardino 

San  Diego 

San  Francisco 

San  Joaquin 

San   Mateo 

Santa  Barbara  

Santa   Clara 

Santa  Cruz 

Shasta  

Siskiyou 

Sonoma 

Stanislaus    

Trinity  

Tuolumne   

Ventura   

Yolo    

Yuba 

Alpine,  Butte,  Cala- 
veras, Colusa, 
Placer",  San  Luis 
Obispo,  Solano, 
Tehama* 


1,630 

"128,416 

2.000 

151,390 

11,587 

12.580 

145,150 

17,000 

20,533 

51,328 

103,452 

139.649 

3,000 

4,700 

51.581 

13,988 

151,856 


248.926 


Totals 5,274,799 


Value 


$1,418 
128,4^4 

1.000 
63,077 

7,640 

12,436 

104,297 

8,700 

10,200 

26,322 

44,441 

141.294 

2,750 

9,»40 
26,265 

9.472 
74,943 


138,808 


$3,014,853 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

"Includes  washed  gravel. 

•"Includes  foundry,  moulding,  and  core  sand. 

<^Includes  engine  sand. 

'"Includes  moulding,  building,  filter,  and  roofing  sand. 

A  comparison  of  the  table  of  annual  productions  of  these  materials 
with  the  similar  table  for  cement  (see  ante),  reveals  the  fact  that  the 
important  growth  of  the  crushed  rock  and  gravel  business  was  coinci- 
dent with  the  rapid  development  of  the  cement  industry  from  the  year 
1902. 


108 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


I  C-l  lO  t—  O  O 


"^  -^  00  OS  Q  r^  c-1  ilO  lO  (>)  t^  c-f  t^  lo 

CfpCOCOCOt^<M>-l.-l  <Mt-1 


[^  O  »0  CO  i-H   «5  lb  (N 
"0510000100        coco 

I  iO  T-l  CM  CM 


■^^SS^SS3^8{BS8552?S 


t^-O-^O^pCOC^I    i-HlOtOOO^'.^.A^-^  '.-.  .....  ^^  .ju  ^  w. 

■^  00  CO  O  O  CC  t^    O^  CO  CM  -^_  -^  O  CM    -*  00  O  0_  »0   Cj2   lO 

T  1/5  Tf  "*       o-i  «^  TT  1-4       t^'  00  ■^  T-H  t£5-  oi  02  r-^  lo  ■^'  o  TiJ 


'  CO  CO  o  -*  i>- 


s 


CO  CO 

^5 


h-  O 

S5 


S8 


8 


2?  o  o  o  ' 

05  oo  o  O 
CO  CO  CO  c^  . 

O  CM 


•i  ®  s 

15  O  O 
O  of  tH 


8 


tH  o  O 
«D  C^f  t>^ 
CM  T-l 


lO  CO 

in  o' 


.^  t^  O  O  t^  CO  CO 

t-  CD  oo  CD  CO  -^  >ra 

-^  -^  CO  CO  CO  "^  t^^ 
CO  02  1^  lO  "^  O  "^ 


o 

O  o 


^  "  =* 

es  Q  u 


02    OJ 


C<3 


03 


cS 


.5   O    C3 


e3  C  o  fci  oi 
>   p3   C3   P   > 


O  «  St 
a  q  tuo  a  5 

o  s  e  a  a 


■P 

S^  5 
moo 

Cj    ^    ^ 


03  p 


3  a  a 


03  a 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


109 


S 


^ 


o  §  o  d 
S  5  "  o 

l-H  fe       o 
>  a  >> 

»-i  CO   M     - 
P4   O   CJ   2 

._  Q    03 

5s  So 

o  S^  •- 
c  ^  c  c 

•-    S    o    c3 

^  <  =:;  X 


o 

S3     ,^53 

a"S  d 
S3  o  a 


-2    (D    «    w 


!« 


-M   OJ 


5  c 


S 


a:  W 

d  o3  ^ 


C.2  a 

C    53   COJ 

o 


:CO 


^ 


S3  o  q  _ 

•t^  a  !-  c  cs 

p  •-    «  03  — 

H  3  U5  X  C 


c3  t-  7!  =i 


a  o 
3  «  ^H  o 


8" 


o 

o  t»  * 
S3    03    3 

. «      - 

^      03  2 
c      ■*-■  « 

P    G   a    i/j 
C.    c3    "  ""^ 

O  =3 

p 

c  «  ■-  ^        a 

?-      t-      Cj      5  ^ 


.9  io  o  2 
M  «      o-S 

-  113  <-i  S" 
"^  O  2 

■w  o  «  "O  •> 

p  t-1  o  s  '' 

•->  73  M :;;  ^ 
O  .2  t,  p  .^ 
.—  •-  tH  t^  a 

g  -  o  S  i 
«  ="  o  c  ^ 

4J  rrj  OJ   o   y 

.5  £  S  £  S 

slll.l 


110 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Columnar  basalt   at  Dunsmuir,   Siskiyou   County.    Basalt  is   an  excellent  material   as  crushed 
rock  for  macadam  and  concrete. 


The  amount  and  value,  annually,  of  crushed  rock  (including 
macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  and  that  for  concrete),  and  sand  and 
gravel,  since  1893,  follow: 

Crushed   Rock,  Sand  and  Gravel,   by  Years. 


Year 


Tons 


1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 


Value 


371,100 

$456, 

661,900 

664, 

1,254,688 

1,095, 

960,619 

839, 

821,123 

600, 

1,177,365 

814, 

964,898 

786, 

789,287 

561, 

530,396 

641, 

2,056,015 

1,249, 

2,215.625 

1,673, 

2,296,898 

1,641, 

2,624,257 

1,716, 

1,555,372 

1.418, 

2,288,888 

1,915, 

075 
838 
939 

884 
•,112 

:,477 

1,892 
,642 
,037 
1,529 
1,591 
,877 
1,770 
!,406 

;,oi5 


Year 


1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

19*20 

Totals 


Tons 


3,998,945 
5,531,561 
5,827,828 
6,487,223 
8,044,937 
9,817,616 
9,288,397 
10,879,497 
9,951,089 
8,069,271 
6,641,144 
6.919.188 
9,792,122 


121,817,249 


Value 


$3,241,774 
2,708,326 
2,777,690 
3,610,357 
4,532,598 
4,823,056 
3,960,973 
4,609,278 
4,009,590 
3,505,662 
3,325.889 
3.678.322 
6,782,414 


$67,642,013 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION, 


111 


Sand  and  gravel  plant  of  Fresno  Rock  Prodiiots  Company,  at  Woodrock,  on  the  Kings  River, 
Fresno  County.    Capacity  700  tons  per  day. 


112  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  FIVE. 

INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS. 

Bibliography :  Reports  XIV,  XV.     Bulletin  38.     Min.  &  Sci.  Prass, 
Vol.  114,  March  10,  1917. 

The  following  mineral  substances  have  been  arbitrarily  arranged 
under  the  general  heading  of  Industrial  Materials,  as  distinguished  from 
those  which  have  a  clearly  defined  classification,  such  as  metals,  salines, 
structural  materials,  etc. 

These  materials,  many  of  which  are  mineral  earths,  are,  with  four 
or  five  exceptions,  as  yet  produced  on  a  comparatively  small  scale.  The 
possibilities  of  development  along  several  of  these  lines  are  large  and 
with  increasing  transportation  and  other  facilities,  together  with  stead- 
ily growing  demands,  the  future  for  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry 
in  California  is  certainly  promising.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the 
state  but  might  contribute  to  the  output. 

Up  to  within  the  last  few  years,  at  least,  production  has  been  in  the 
majority  of  instances  dependent  upon  more  or  less  of  a  strictly  local 
market,  and  the  annual  tables  show  the  results  of  such  a  condition,  not 
only  in  the  widely  varying  amounts  of  a  certain  material  produced  from 
year  to  year,  but  in  widely  varying  prices  of  the  same  material.  Fur- 
thermore, the  quality  of  this  general  class  of  material  will  be  found  to 
fluctuate,  even  in  the  same  deposit.  The  war  in  Europe  affected  some 
of  these  items,  but  not  to  the  striking  degree  that  it  did  the  metal 
markets. 

The  more  important  of  these  minerals  thus  far  exploited,  so  far  as , 
shown  by  annual  value  of  the  output,  are  limestone,  mineral  water, 
pyrite,  pottery  clays,  and  diatomaceous  earth. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


113 


The  following  summary  shows  the  value  of  the  industrial  materials 
produced  in  California  during  the  years  1919-1920,  with  increase  or 
decrease  in  each  instance : 


1919 

1920 

Increases- 

Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Decrease — 
Value 

Asbestos 

Barytes  ..    — _  — 

1,501  tons 

135.708  tons 

24,502  tons 

1,272  tons 

385  tons 

$18,065 

245,019 

67,953 

12,965 

3,810 

5,425 

50,579 

217,800 

248.145 

14,400 

17,055 

340,117 

43,657 

540,300 

101,600 

115,091 

♦ 

3,029  tons 

203,997  tons 

42,388  tons 

4,518  tons 

600  tons 

» 
$20,795 
440,6S9 
132,791 

26,189 
6,000 

36,056 

* 

92,535 

1,056  260 

298,197 

153,502 

8.477 

421,613 

25,890 

530,581 

96,793 

221,362 

$2,730+ 

Clay   (pottery) 

195,670+ 

Dolomite    

Feldspar 

Fuller's  earth.. ... 

64,838+ 
13,224+ 
2,190+ 

Gems            - 

30.631+ 

Graphite  -.  -           ..  .  . 

* 
19,813  tons 

40,200  tons 

88,291  tons 

SOO  tons 

1,780  tons 

2,233,842  gals. 

2,388  tons 

147,024  tons 

18,659  tons 

8,764  tons 

* 
20,507  tons 

60,761  tons 

90,120  tons 

10,046  tons 

779  tons 

2,391,791  gals. 

1,537  tons 

146,001  tons 

25,324  tons 

11,327  tons 

♦        

Gypsum 

41,956+ 

Infusorial    and    diatomaceous 
earths 

Limestone 

838,460+ 
50,052+ 

Lithia  --  — -  -. 

139,102+ 

Mineral  paint..      -            ... 

8,578— 

Mineral  water ... 

81.526+ 

Pumice  and  volcanic  ash  _    . 

17,767— 

Pyrite 

Silica  (sand  and  quartz) 

9,719— 

4,807— 

Soapstone  and  talc 

106,271+ 

Total   value 

$2,041,981 



$3,567,760 

Net  increase    

$1,525,779+ 

*Iucluded  under  Unapportioned. 

ASBESTOS. 

Bihliographij :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV.  Bul- 
letin 38.  Canadian  Dept.  of  M.,  Mines  Branch  Bulletin  69. 
Min.  and  Sci.  Press,  April  10,  1920,  pp.  531-533. 

Though  asbestos  of  various  grades  is  known  in  several  localities  in 
California,  the  production  thus  far  is  still  small.  For  the  year  1920 
the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item.  There  was, 
however,  a  smaller  yield  than  in  1919.  From  Nevada  County  some 
small  shipments  of  spinning  fiber  were  sent  East ;  but  the  main  part  of 
the  output  was  utilized  loeall}^  in  magnesite-cement  stucco,  steam-pipe 
covering,  and  flooring.  Some  ampliibole  was  shipped  from  Shasta 
County. 

The  Nevada  County  material  yields  a  good  proportion  of  medium- 
length  chr^^sotile  with  some  high-grade  spinning  fiber.  The  Sierra 
Asbestos  Company  has  opened  up  a  promising  deposit  there,  and  has 
been  milling  its  rock  in  an  old  20-stamp  gold  mill  converted  to  their 
purposes,  to  which  fiberizing  machinery  has  been  added.  For  the 
current  year  an  increased  output  is  expected,  as  improvements  have 
been  made  in  tbe  equipment.  The  Long-R^'an  Asbestos  Company 
reports  (June,  1921)  shipping  chrysotile  from  a  deposit  which  they 
are  opening  up  on  Clear  Creek,  near  Hernandez,  San  Benito  County. 
Chry.sotile  of  good-quality  fiber,  though  short,  has  also  been  found  in 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Lake,  Napa,  and  Trinity  counties. 

S— 12865 


114  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

The  bulk  of  tlie  world's  supply  of  this  mineral  comes  from  Canada; 
and  Canadian  asbestos,  until  recently,  has  led  in  length  of  fiber  as 
well  as  in  quality.  It  is  now  equaled,  if  not  excelled,  by  fibre  produced 
in  Arizona. 

Classification    and    Characteristics. 

The  word  asbestos  (derived  from  the  Greek,  meaning  incombustible) 
as  used  here  includes  several  minerals,  from  a  strictly  mineralogical 
standpoint.  There  are  two  main  divisions,  however;  amphibole  and 
chrysotile.  The  fibrous  varieties  of  several  of  the  amphiboles  (silicates 
chiefly  of  lime,  magnesia  and  iron),  notably  tremolite  and  actinolite, 
are  called  asbestos.  Their  fibres  usually  lie  parallel  to  the  fissures  con- 
taining them.  Amphibole  asbestos  possesses  high  refractory  properties, 
but  lacks  strength  of  fibre,  and  is  applicable  principally  for  covering 
steam  pipes  and  boilers.  Chrysotile,  a  hydrous  silicate  of  magnesia,  is 
a  fibrous  form  of  serpentine,  and  often  of  silky  fineness.  Its  fibres  are 
formed  at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  fissures  containing  them. 
Chrysotile  fibres,  though  short,  have  considerable  strength  and  elasticity, 
and  may  be  spun  into  threads  and  woven  into  cloth.  To  bring  the 
highest  market  price  asbestos  must  needs  have  a  combination  of  prop- 
erties, i.  e.,  length  and  fineness  of  fibre,  tensile  strength  and  flexibility — 
all  combined  with  infusibility.  Of  these  qualities  the  most  important 
are  toughness  and  infusibility,  and  determination  of  the  same  can  only 
be  made  by  practical  tests  or  in  the  laboratory. 

Asbestos,  roughly  speaking,  was  worth  from  $20  to  $200  per  ton, 
before  the  war.  Under  the  stimulus  of  war  conditions,  the  demand  has 
caused  a  material  increase  in  prices.  The  poorer  grades  which  are 
unsuitable  for  weaving  and  which,  of  course,  command  the  lower  prices, 
are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  steam  packing,  furnace  linings,  asbestos 
brick,  wall  plasters,  paints,  tiling,  asbestos  board,  shingles,  insulating 
material,  magnesite-stueco,  etc.  The  better  grades  are  utilized  in  the 
manufacture  of  tapestries  of  various  kinds,  fireproof  theater  curtains, 
cloth,  rope,  etc. 

A  very  important  development  of  the  asbestos  industry  is  the  rapidly 
increasing  demand  for  the  lower  grade  material,  on  account  of  the 
numerous  diversified  uses  to  which  asbestos  products  are  being  put,  in 
almost  every  branch  of  manufacture.  This  fact  means  that  many 
deposits  of  asbestos  will  become  commercially  important  even  though 
the  grade  of  the  material  is  far  from  the  best. 

It  lias  been  found  that  not  only  does  an  asbestos  wall-plaster  render 
the  wall  so  covered  impervious  to  heat,  but  that  in  rooms  w'hich  have 
given  forth  an  undesirable  echo  this  evil  has  been  absolutely  removed. 
Asbestos  pulp  mixed  with   magnesite-cement  has  been   experimented 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


115 


with;  aiid  roofing,  flooring,  and  otlier  building  material  of  the  most 
satisfactory  sort  has  been  manufactured  therefrom. 

Asbestos  Grading. 

('hrvsotile  asbestos  is  graded  bv  the  trade  into  the  following  classes: 
CrudeNo.  1;  Crude  No.  2;  Mill  t-^tock.  Xos.  1,  2,  and  3.  The  method  of 
l: lading  is  described  as  follows :' 

"We  use  the  standard  method  of  testinp.  namely,  the  shaking  screen  machine. 
■'Wo  take  one  pound  and  shake  it  for  two  minutes  at  300  revolutions  per  minute. 
"The  machine  consists  of  four  wooden  trays  about  '>  inches  deep,  16  inches  by  26 
inches.  The  bottoms  of  three  of  these  trays  are  made  of  wire  cloth  screen  of  different 
meshes.  The  bottom  tray  is  lined  with  zinc.  The  trays  are  numbered  from  1  down. 
No.  1  being  tlie  coarsest  screen.  No.  2  medium.  No.  ?,  fine.  No.  4  is  the  box  for  the 
receptacle  of  sand  and  short  filires. 

No.  1  screen  is  2  mesh  1 1  gauge. 
No.  2  screen  is  4  mesh  17  gauge. 
No.  3  screen  is  10  mesh  18  gauge. 
"After  the  shaking  has  taken  place,  the  residue  in  each  box  is  weighed  and  the  total 
weight  of  sixteen  ounces  is  arrived  at.     The  more  found  on  the  first  box  the  better  the 
fibre,  and  so  on." 

'Crude'  is  the  designation  applied  to  the  hand-cobbed,  high-grade 
lumps  of  long-fibre  material  that  does  not  require  preliminary  milling. 
Even  in  Canada  this  class  comprised  in  1918  and  1919  less  than  0.2% 
of  the  total  rock  mined,  and  averaged  2.b%-S%  of  the  total  merchantable 
asbestos.-  For  1920,  shipments  of  all  grades  from  Quebec  totaled  174,521 
tons  valued  at  sf^ll, 758,234.  Prices  are  being  maintained  for  the  cur- 
rent year,  during  this  pci-iod  of  economic  readjustment,  by  curtailing 
the  output. 

Value  and  Production. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  asbestos  production  in  California  since 
1887,  as  given  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau,  are  as  follows  : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value                          Year 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

1              30 

30 

30 

71 

66 

30 

50 

1             50 

25 

$1,800 
1,800 
1,800 
4.260 
a960 
1,830 
2,500 
2,250 
1,000 

1905 

112 

70 

70 

70 

65 

20O 

125 

90 

47 

51 

143 

145 

136 

229 

* 

* 

$2,625 

1888 

1906 

3,500 

1889 

1907        -      - 

3,500 

1890 

1908 ..     __     -- 

6,100 

1891 

1909 

6,500 

1892 

1910 

20,000 

1893  

1911 

500 

18M 

1895 

1912  

1913 

2.700 
1,175 

1896    .  -      

1914  

1915 

1916    

1,530 

1897 '    

2,860 

1898      - 

10 

30 

50 

110 

200 

750 

1.250 

4,400 

2,380 

18S9 

1917 

10,225 

1900 

1918     

9,903 

1901 

1919               -            

* 

1902      -     .-     - 

1920 

* 

1903 

Totals 

ir<i| 

,             10 

162 

2,145 

$101,460 

1 

"Under  Unapportioned. 


"Asbestos  crude  and  fibre."  a  booklet  issued  by  the  Asbestos  and  Mineral  Corpora- 
iio:i.  New  York.  1921.  p.   27. 

'(T.  S.  Commerce  Reports,  No.  84,  April  12,  1021  :  tallies  of  production  on  page  2.')0. 


im 


116 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


BARYTES. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV. 
letin  38. 


Bul- 


The  output  of  crude  barytes  during  1920  was  3029  tons,  valued  at 
$20,795  as  compared  with  the  1919  production  of  1501  tons,  worth 
$18,065.  The  principal  use  for  barytes  is  in  the  paint  industry; 
also  in  certain  rubber  articles.  For  the  former  purpose,  the  material 
should  show  pure  white  after  grinding.  Lithopone  is  a  chemically  pre- 
pared white  pigment  containing  about  70%  barium  sulphate  and  30% 
zinc  sulphide,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  constituents  of  'flat'  wall 
paints  now  so  extensively  used  in  office  buildings  and  hospitals,  replacing 
both  paper  and  calcimine  wall  finishes.  Minor  uses  are  in  tanning  of 
leather,  manufacture  of  paper  and  rope,  and  sugar  refining.  Most  of 
the  1920  output  of  California  was  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  litho- 
pone and  blanc  fixe. 

Known  occurrences  of  this  mineral  in  California  are  located  in  Inyo, 
Los  Angeles,  Mariposa,  Monterey,  Nevada,  San  Bernardino,  Shasta,  and 
Santa  Barbara  counties.  The  deposit  at  El  Portal,  in  Mariposa  County, 
has  given  the  largest  commercial  production  to  date,  in  part,  witherite 
(barium  carbonate,  BaCOg).  The  1915  output  was  the  first  commercial 
production  of  the  carbonate  in  the  United  States,  of  which  we  have 
record.  In  1916,  output  began  from  a  deposit  opened  up  on  Fremont's 
Peak,  Monterey  County,  near  the  line  of  San  Benito  County,  and  in 
1919-1920  shipments  were  also  made  from  Nevada  County.  Shasta 
County  is  reported  in  the  list  for  1921. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  barytes  in  California,  according  to 
the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  was  in  1910.  The 
annual  figures  are  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 

Value 

860 

$5,640 

309 

2,207 

564 

2,812 

1,600 

3,680 

2,000 

3,000 

410 

620 

1        1,606 

5,516 

Tear 


Value 


1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 


1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 


$25,633 

1,500 

18,065 

20,795 


CLAY— POTTERY. 

Bihliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  I,  IV,  IX,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV.    Bulletin  38.    Preliminary  Report,  No.  7. 

At  one  time  or  another  in  the  history  of  the  state,  pottery  clay  has 
been  quarried  in  thirty-three  of  its  counties.  In  this  report  pottery  clay 
refers  to  all  claj^s  used  in  the  manufacture  of  red  and  brown  earthen- 
ware, sanitary  ware,  flowerpots,  ornamental  tiling,  architectural  terra 


STATISTICS   OP  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


117 


cotta,  sewer  pipe,  drain  and  roof  tile,  etc.,  and  the  figures  for  amount 
and  value  are  relative  to  the  crude  material  at  the  pit,  without  reference 
to  whether  the  clay  was  sold  in  the  crude  form,  or  whether  it  was  imme- 
diately used  in  thq  manufacture  of  any  of  the  above  finished  products  bj' 
the  producer.  It  does  not  include  clay  used  in  making  brick  and  building 
blocks. 

During  1920  a  total  of  43  producers  in  12  counties  reported  an  output 
of  203,997  tons  of  clay,  having  a  spot  value  of  $440,689  for  the  crude 
material,  at  the  pits,  as  compared  with  the  1919  production  of  135,708 
tons  worth  $245,019. 

This  considera])le  increase  in  production  of  pottery  clays  and  tlicir 
])r('ducts  of  all  kinds,  coupled  with  the  increase  shown  by  brick  and 
building  blocks  (see  Chapter  IV,  ante),  is  an  indication  of  the  resump- 
tion of  building  operations  throughout  the  state,  which  had  been  curtailed 
during  the  war  period. 

A  tabulation  of  the  direct  i-cturns  from  the  producers,  by  counties, 
for  the  year  1920,  is  shown  herewith : 


County 


Tons 


Value 


.Mampda 
Amador 


Contra  Costa 
Los  Angeles  - 
Placer   


3,001 
>^  25,719 

$3,762 
61,808 

1,743 

3,319 

*  "  n8,6S4 

91,763 

65,560 

76,500 

Riverside 


San  Bernardino  

San  Diego  

Santa  Clara 

Humboldt,  Lassen  and  Grange* 

Totals -- 


«  76,317 

395 

*5,852 

1,900 

5,126 


126,313 

890 

57,522 

4,600 

14,212 


203,997  I       $440,6 


Used  in  the  manufacture  of— 

Terra  cotta  and  sewer  pipe. 

Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware, 
porcelain,  refractories,  et  al. 

Architectural  terra  cotta,  faience 
tile,  and  refractories. 

White  ware,  refractories,  roofing  and 
faience  tile,  toilet  articles,  et  al. 

Architectural  terra  cotta,  sewer  pipe, 
sanitary  ware,  drain  and  roof  tile, 
chimney  pipe,  and  flue  lining. 

Tile,  terra  cotta,  chinaware,  stone- 
ware, chemical  ware,  sewer  pipe, 
refractories  and  drain  tile. 

Chemical  stoneware,  terra  cotta, 
faience  tile,  et  al. 

Stoneware,  pottery,  and  petroleum 
refining. 

Sewer  pipe,  red  earthenware  and 
stoneware. 

Art  pottery  and  drain  tile. 


^Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
•Includes  crushed  brick  and  grog. 
•'Includes  crushed  clay  for  roofing. 
"^Includes  kaolin. 

'■Includes  colloidal  clay  used  in  soap  making. 

"Includes  montmorillonite   ore   'rock  soap'   used   in   petroleum   refining,   soap   and   kalsomine 
manufacture;   also  includes  'Cornish  stone,'  used  for  pottery. 


Because  of  the  fact  that  a  given  product  often  requires  a  mixture  of 
I  several  different  clays,  and  that  these  are  not  all  found  in  the  same  pit, 
it  is  necessary  for  most  clay -working  plants  to  buy  some  part  of  their 
raw  materials  from  other  localities.  For  these  reasons,  in  compiling  the 
clay  industry  figures,  much  care  is  required  to  avoid  duplications.  So 
far  as  we  have  l)een  able  to  segregate  the  figures,  from  the  data  sent  in 


118 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


by  the  operatives,  we  have  credited  the  clay  output  to  the  counties  from 
which  the  raw  material  originated;  and  have  deducted  tonnages  used 
in  l)riek  manufacture,  as  bricks  are  classified  separately,  herein. 


Sacramento  City  Library,  finished  with  architectural  terra  cotta  and  fancy  bricks 
from  plant  of  Gladding-McBean  Company,  Lincoln,  Placer  County. 


The  values  of  the  various  pottery  clay  products  made  in  California 
during  1920lotaled  $3,923,518  compared  with  $2,076,280  in  1919,  their 
distribution  being  shown  in  the  following  tabulation  : 

Values  of  Pottery  Clay  Products,  1920. 


Product 


Number  of 
producers 


Value 


Architectural  terra  cotta 5 

Chimney  pipe,  terra  cotta  and  flue  linings 4 

Drain  tile  7 

Roofing  tile 4 

Sewer  pipe '  6 

Stoneware,  chemical  and  sanitary  ware 8 

Red  earthenware 3 

Floor,  faience,  glazed  and  hand-made  tile 9 

Miscellaneous,  art  pottery,  terra  cotta,  garden  furniture, 
mortar  colors,  vitrified  conduit,  bisque  ware  and  doll 
heads 


Total  A'alue. 


$1,092,198 

102,468 

71,525 

340,741 

954,906 

1,103,686 

104,741 

57,946 


95,307 


S?,923,518 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


119 


Tottery    Plant    of    Gladding-Mc-Bean    Company,    at    Lincoln.    Placer    County. 

Amount  and  value  of  crude  pottery  clay  output  in  California  since 
1887  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


1887 '  75,000 

1888 75,000 

1889  .- 75,000 

1890 100,000 

1891  100,0CO 

189-2  100,000 


1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
190O 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


24,856 
28,475 
37,660 
41,907 
24,592 
28,947 
40,600 
59.636 
55,679 
67,933 
90,972 
81,149 


?37.500 
37,o0<} 
37,500 
50,000 
50,000 
50,000 
67,284 
35,073 
39,685 
62,900 
30,290 
33,747 
42,700 
60,956 
39,144 
74,163 
99,907 
81,952 


1S05 133,805 

1908 167,267 

:1907 160,385 

il908 208,042 

11909 299,424 

1910 249,028 

:  1911  224,576 

1912 199,605 

1913 231,179 

1914  179,948 

1915 157,866 

1916  134,636 

11917 166,298 

1918 112,423 

1919 135,705 

1920 203,997 


$130,146 
162,283 
2.>1,454 
325,147 
465,647 
324,099 
252,759 
215,683 
261,273 
167,552 
133,724 
146,538 
154,602 
166,788 
245,019 
440,689 


Totals i074.593 


$4,776,704 


DOLOMITE. 

Bibliograplijj:  Report  XV.     Bulletin  67. 
Previous  to  the  1015  report  dolomite  was  included  under  limestone. 
Limestones  are  frequently  more  or  less  magnesian-bearing,  and  a  chem- 
ical analvsis  is  often  necessarv  to  definitely  decide  as  to  wliether  they 


120 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


are  ealeite  or  dolomite ;  the  latter  standing  intermediate  between  mag- 
nesite  (MgCOg)  and  ealeite  (CaCOa).  Since  dolomite,  as  such,  has  been 
found  to  have  certain  distinctive  applications,  we  have  deemed  it  worthy 
of  a  separate  classification. 

The  major  portion  of  the  tonnage  being  shipped  is  utilized  as  a  refrac- 
tory lining  in  the  bottoms  of  open-hearth  steel  furnaces,  as  a  sub-stitute 
for  magnesite.  A  portion  is  used  for  its  carbonic  acid  gas  (CO,),  and 
part  for  its  magnesia.  We  are  also  informed  that  some  calcined  dolomite 
has  been  used  by  the  paper  mills.  As  dolomite  contains  the  proper  pro- 
portions of  lime  and  magnesia,  it  can  replace  an  artificial  mixture  of 
calcined  limestone  and  magnesite  in  the  sulphite  process  of  manufacture 
of  paper  from  wood  pulp.  Dolomite  is  also  sometimes  used  as  a  flux  in 
2netal  smelting. 

The  production  of  dolomite  for  the  year  1920  amounted  to  42,388 
tons,  valued  at  $132,791,  and  came  from  a  total  of  9  quarries  in  5  counties, 
distributed  as  follows : 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Monterey            _ 

5.755 
18,000 
18,633 

$26,238 
57,750 
48,803 

San   Benito  _  __.                _      

Inyo,  San  Bernardino,  Tuolumne* .    _.        

Totals ._ 

42,388 

$132,791 

'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Amount  and  value  of  the  output  of  dolomite,  annually,  have  been  as 

follows  : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


4,192 
13,313 
27.911 
24.560 
24,502 
42,388 


$14,504 

■  46,566 

66,416 

79,441 

67,953 

132,791 


Totals. 


136,866 


$407,671 


FELDSPAR. 
Bihliography :  Report  XV.    Bulletin  67.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  92. 

Feldspar  was  produced  by  seven  operators  in  four  counties  during 
1920,  to  the  amount  of  4518  tons,  valued  at  $26,189. 

Feldspar  production  only  dates  back  to  1910  in  California.  The 
mineral  is  a  constituent  of  many  rocks,  but  can  only  be  commercially 
produced  from  pegmatites  where  the  crystals  are  large  and  quite  free 
from  impurities.  The  open-cut  method  of  mining  this  material  is  com- 
monly used.  ]\Ianufacturers  of  enamel  wares  and  pottery  buy  most  of 
the  better  grades  of  feldspar  produced.  Small  quantities  are  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  glass  and  scouring  soaps,  and  the  more  impure 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


121 


material  is  used  as  chicken  grit,  in  making  various  brands  of  roofing,  and 
in  other  ways.  Various  experiments  have  been  made  with  the  potash 
feldspars  in  the  attempt  to  extract  their  potash  content  for  use  in  fertil- 
izers. The  most  successful  of  these  has  been  accomplished  through  the 
medium  of  cement  manufacture,  and  recovery  of  the  potash  as  a 
by-product. 

^"The  requirements  of  the  pottery  trade  demand  that  in  general  the  percentage  of  free 
quartz  associated  with  the  feldspar  used  for  this  purpose  shall  not  exceed  20  per  cent  in 
tlie  ground  product,  and  certain  potters  demand  a  spar  which  is  nearly  pure,  containing 
probably  less  than  5  per  cent  of  free  quartz.  In  order  to  be  profitably  worked  in  most 
feldspar  mines  between  one-fourth  and  one-half  of  the  total  material  that  must  be  exca- 
vated should  contain  less  than  20  per  cent  of  free  quartz.  Freshness  of  the  feldspar, 
though  desirable,  is  not  essential. 

"A  factor  of  the  utmost  importance  in  the  mining  of  potterj^  spar  is  the  quantity  of 
iron-bearing  minerals  (black  mica,  hornblende,  garnet,  black  tourmaline,  etc.)  present 
and  tlie  manner  in  which  these  minerals  are  associated  with  the  feldspar.  The  require- 
ments of  the  pottery  trade  demand  that  the  spar  be  nearly  free  from  these  minerals.  In 
order  that  a  deposit  may  be  worked  profitably  these  minerals,  if  present  in  any  appre- 
ciable quantity,  must  be  so  segregated  in  certain  portions  of  tlie  deposit  that  they  can  be 
separated  from  the  spar  without  much  more  hand  sorting  and  cobbing  than  is  necessary 
anyway  in  the  separation  of  the  highly  feldspathic  material  from  that  which  is  highly 
quartzose  or  rich  in  muscovite.  The  presence  here  and  there  of  minute  flakes  of  white 
mica  (muscovite)  is  characteristic  even  of  the  liighcst  grades  of  commercial  feldspar, 
and  this  mineral  is  not  injurious  except  in  so  far  as  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to 
pulverize  the  thin,  flexible  mica  plates  to  a  fineness  equal  to  that  required  in  the 
feldspar,  and  it  is  therefore  necessary  in  mining  to  separate  carefully  as  much  of  the 
muscovite  as   possible  from    the  spar. 

"Recently  potash  feldspars  have  been  .sought  as  a  source  of  potash  salts  and  also  by 
reason  of  their  potash,  content  for  incorporation  in  so-called  complete  fertilizers.  For 
such  purposes  the  prices  paid  are  generally  less  than  for  pottery  feldspar  of  first  and 
second  grade,  and  if  such  use  of  feldspar  is  found  practicable  the  quantities  required 
will  be  far  in  excess  of  those  heretofore  annually  required  by  the  pottery  industries. 
To  supply  such  a  demand  pegmatite  deposits  must  be  of  large  size  and  very  favorably 
located  with  respect  to  transportation  facilities  and  market. 

"The  requirements  for  extraction  of  potash  and  for  use  in  fertilizer  are  a  high  potash 
content  and  convenience  of  location.  The  presence  of  quartz  and  of  iron-bearing  and 
other  minerals  in  small  quantities  is  of  no  significance.  Both  white  and  black  mica 
are  potash-bearing  minerals  and  therefore  not  wholly  undesirable. 

"Almost  any  coarse,  undecomposed  granite  pegmatite  is  adapted  to  the  manufacture 
of  roofing  matei'ials  and  poultry  grit,  but  these  products  command  such  low  prices  that 
they  can  be  marketed  only  under  very  favorable  conditions." 

The  most  important  recent  developments  in  feldspar  deposits  in 
California  have  taken  place  in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties,  where 
large  deposits  of  massive,  high-grade  spar  are  being  opened  up.  These 
deposits  are  unusually  free  from  black  mica  and  other  deleterious  iron- 
l)earing  minerals  which  are  objectionable  in  pottery  work.  The  impor- 
tant districts  are  near  Lakeside  and  Campo  in  San  Diego  County,  and 
near  Lakeview,  IMurrietta,  and  Elsinore,  in  Riverside  County.  In  Kern 
County,  for  the  current  year  (1921),  the  cement  plant  at  IMonolith  is 
reported  utilizing  feldspar  from  Rosamond  as  a  source  for  by-product 
potash. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  feldspar  pro(iuction  in  California  since 
the  inception  of  the  industry  are  given  in  the  following  table,  by  years : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 


760 

$5,720 
4.560 
6.180 
7.850 

1917 

11.792 
4,132 
1,272 
4.518 

$46,411 

740 
1.382 
2,129 

1918 

1919 

1920 

22,061 
12.965 
26.189 

3,530 

16,565 

9.000 

14,350 

Totals 

1.800 

34.685 

$171,846 

2.630 

»Kptz.  r.  J..  Feldspar  ia  1916:  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv..  Miu.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1910.  Part  II.  p.  175.  1917. 


L 


122  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

FLUORSPAR. 

Bihliograplnj :  Bulletin  67. 

Fluorspar  is  used  as  a  flux  in  steel  and  iron  smelting,  and  in  the  pro- 
duction of  aluminum.  It  is  also  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  hydro- 
fluoric acid,  glass,  porcelain,  enamels  and  sanitary  ware. 

^"The  market  for  the  bulk  of  the  fluorspar  sold  in  the  United  States  depends  on  the 
steel  industry  and  tlie  demand  fluctuates  with  the  rise  and  fall  in  the  production  of  steel. 
Gravel  spar  is  consumed  as  a  flux  in  basic  open-hearth  steel  furnaces  and  to  a  smaller 
extent  in  other  metallurgical  operations  .  In  both  1914  and  1915  the  sales  of  gravel 
spar  constituted  between  83  and  84  per  cent  of  the  total  marketed  output  of  domestic 
fluorspar,  and  in  1916  it  was  nearly  86  per  cent.  Fluorspar  is  used  also  as  a  flux  in 
iron  blast  furnaces,  iron  foundries,  and  in  gold,  silver,  copper,  and  lead  smelters  ;  in  the 
manufacture  of  fluorides  of  iron  and  manganese  for  steel  fluxing  and  of  sodium  fluoride 
for  wood  preservation-;  in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  enameled,  and  sanitary  ware,  and 
of  hydrofluoric  acid;  in  the  electrolytic  refining  of  antimony  and  lead;  and  in  the  pro- 
duction of  aluminum.  Other  miscellaneous  uses  of  fluorspar  that  have  been  reported 
are  as  a  bonding  for  constituents  of  emery  wheels,  for  carbon  electrodes,  in  the  extrac- 
tion of  potash  from  feldspar,  and  in  the  recovery  of  potash  in  Portland  cement  manu- 
facture. The  last  use  depends  on  the  suitability  of  calcium  fluoride  as  a  reagent  for 
increasing  the  volatilization  of  potassium  salts  from  the  clinker  and  the  regeneration  of 
the  reagent  from  the  dust  collected.''" 

In  (California,  deposits  liave  been  reported  in  Los  Angeles,  JNIono, 
Riverside,  and  San  Bernardino  counties,  but  up  to  1917  no  commercial 
production  had  resulted.  As  the  li)! 7-1 91 8  output  came  from  a  single 
operator  in  Rivei-side  County,  the  amount  and  value  were  concealed 
under  the  Unapportioned  item.  There  was  none  shipped  in  1919  or  1920. 
At  the  King  mine,  near  Afton  in  San  Bernardino  County,  a  large  deposit 
is  being  opened  up,  which  may  become  an  important  source,  commer- 
cially, of  this  mineral.  Analyses  reported  show  an  average  of  over  90% 
calcium  fluoride  (CaF^). 

The  general  average  price  per  ton  f.o.b.  mines  or  shipping  points 
(eastern  states),  for  all  grades  of  fluorspar  in  1920,  was  $25.26,  according 
to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey. 

FULLER'S  EARTH. 
Bibliography :  Bulletin  38.    U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  Bulletin  71. 

Fuller's  earth  production  in  California  during  the  year  1920  amounted 
to  600  tons,  valued  at  $6000,  as  compared  with  385  tons,  valued  at  $3810 
in  1919. 

Fuller's  earth  includes  many  kinds  of  unctuous  clays.  It  is  usuall.v 
soft,  friable,  earthy,  noiiplastie,  white  and  gray  to  dark  green  in  color, 
and  some  varieties  disintegrate  in  water.  Like  all  other  clays,  fuller's 
earth  is  a  hydrous  aluminum  silicate,  but  usually  contains  a  higher  per- 
centage of  water  of  composition  than  most  clays.  This  water  is  not  an 
essential  factor  in  the  bleaching  properties  of  all  fuller 's  earths,  as  some 
bleach  fully  as  well  after  it  has  been  driven  off  as  before,  and  others  lose 

'Burchard,  E.  F.,  Fluorspar  and  cryolite  in  1916  :  LT.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S., 
1916,  Part  II,  p.  315,  1917. 

^Teesdale,  C.  H.,  LTse  of  fluorides  in  wood  preservation :  Wood  Preserving,  vol.  3, 
No.  4;   vol.  4,  No.   1.      (Reprint,  9  pp.) 

"Treanor,  John,  Potash  from  cement  at  the  Rivei'side  Portland  Cement  Co.  ;  Met.  and 
Cheoa.  Eng.,  June  15,  1917.  pp.  701-703. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


123 


much  of  their  bleaching  power  when  this  water  is  removed.  All  fuller's 
earths  which  have  been  found  valuable  for  bleaching  purposes  show  a 
distinctly  so-called  'acid  reaction.'  (If  a  sample  is  touched  to  neutral 
litmus  paper  the  pa]K'i-  will  be  turned  red).  Chemical  analyses  are  now 
well  understood  to  be  no  criterion  in  determining  the  elassifieation  of  a 
given  clay  as  'fuller's  earth.'  Tlie  final  determination  is  a  commercial 
one  as  to  its  capacity  for  absorbing  basic  colors  and  removing  these  colors 
from  solution  in  animal,  vegetable  or  mineral  oils,  also  from  water. 

'"The  Shipping  Board's  Inquiries  al.so  Ijrought  out  tlie  interesting  information  tliat 
only  domestic  fuller's  earth  is  used  for  tlie  refining  of  mineral  oils.  There  appears,  on 
the  other  liand,  to  be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  suitaV^ility  of  the  domestic  earth 
for  use  in  refining  edible  oils.  Some  of  tlie  larger  users  of  fuller's  earth,  anticipating 
a  shortage  of  imported  material,  began  early  in  the  war  to  experiment  with  domestic 
earths  in  refining  edible  oils  and  fats,  with  results  so  satisfactory  that  they  became 
independent  of  imported  earth.  Others  stated  that  they  had  experimented  with  every 
known  domestic  earth,  but  had  not  found  one  tliat  completely  met  the  requirements  to 
supplant  the  imported  earth.  The  retiuirements  of  a  good  earth  for  refining  edible  oils 
are  (  1 )  tliat  it  shall  bleach  well  and  that  the  oil  shall  not  revert  to  its  original  color  ; 
('2r)  that  it  shall  filter  well  and  not  cake  badly;  (3)  that  it  shall  leave  no  permanent 
disagreeable  taste  or  odor;  (4)  that  the  retention  of  oil  in  the  spent  earth  shall  be 
small  ;  and  (5)  that  there  shall  be  no  spontaneous  ignition  either  in  the  press  or  in  the 
waste  piles.  Those  who  use  the  imported  earth  claim  that  it  is  standard  in  all  of  these 
requirements,  and  that  the  domestic  earth  is  deficient  in  one  or  moi-e  of  tliem.  Such  a 
defect  as  inability  to  bleacli  well  appears  to  be  inlierent  in  some  domestic  earth,  and  can 
not  be  remedied  by  treatment.  Other  defects,  such  as  the  taste  or  odor  left  by  the  earth, 
which  is  the  most  frequent  ob.iection  urged  against  the  domestic  material,  may  possibly 
l)e  overcome  liy  treatment.  Another  serious  fault  charged  against  the  American  earth 
is  tliat  it  retains  a  greater  proportion  of  oil  thiin  the  English  earth,  which  means  a 
<lirect  loss  in  production  ;  also  that  it  clogs  the  filter  presses  more,  so  that  they  require 
more  frequent  cleaning,  which  causes  furtlier  decrease  in  production.  It  is  also  charged 
that  domestic  earth  is  more  subject  to  spontaneous  combustion." 

In  California,  fuller's  earth  has  been  used  in  clarifying  both  refined 
mineral  and  vegetable  oils,  although  its  original  use  was  in  fulling  wool, 
as  the  name  indicates.  Some  of  the  1919  product  was  used  for  special 
chemical  purposes.  Production  has  mainly  come  from  Calaveras  and 
Solano  counties.  Deposits  have  also  been  fomid  in  Riverside,  Fresno, 
Inyo,  and  Kern  counties.  Experiments  are  being  conducted  by  some  of 
the  large  oil  refiners,  with  clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite 
group  ('rock  soap')  to  determine  their  suitability,  or  efficacy  as  a  substi- 
•tute  for  fuller 's  earth  in  the  refining  of  petroleum  products. 

It  was  first  produced  commercially  in  this  state  in  1899,  and  the  total 
amount  and  value  of  the  output  since  that  time  are  as  follows : 


Year 


Value 


Year 


1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1S04 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 


620  1     $12,400     1911 


500 

1,000 

987 

250 

500 

1,344 

440 

100 

50 

459 

340 


3,750  ;i  1912 
19,500  I  1913 
19,246     1914 


4,750 
9,500 
38,000 
10,500 
1.000 
1,000 
7.385 
3,820 


1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


Tons 

Value 

466 

$5,294 

876 

6.500 

460 

3,700 

760 

5,928 

692 

4,002 

110 

550 

2-20 

2,180 

37 

333 

385 

3.810 

60O 

6.000 

Totals. 


11,196 


$169,148 


'Mirtdleton,  Jefferson,   Fuller's  Ii:aith 
litis,    Part  II,   p,    136,    1919. 


ill   IDIS:   V.   S.  Oeol.   Surv.,   Min.   Rcs.   of  IT.   g. 


124 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


GEMS. 

Bihliography :  State  iVIineralogist  Reports  II,  XIV,  XV.    Bulletins 
37,  67. 

Accounting  for  the  production  of  gems  in  California  is  somewhat 
unsatisfactory,  owing  to  the  widely  scattered  places  at  which  stones  are 
gathered  and  marketed  in  a  very  small  way.  The  following  table  shows 
the  production,  by  counties,  of  rough  uncut  materials  during  1920 : 


County 


Value 


Kind 


Butte 

San  Diego. 


Calaveras 

Kern 

Modoc 

Riverside 

San  Bernardino, 

Total 


2,100 

f 

I 

*33,55G     -I 

I 

I 


$36,056 


Diamonds. 

Tourmaline,  beryl,  topaz,  hyacinth,  quartz, 

garnet. 
Quartz  crystals  for  optical  purposes. 
Yellow  moss  opal. 

Iceland  spar  crystals,  for  optical  purposes. 
Quartz  crystals. 
Myrickito,  bloodstone,  chalcedony. 


*Com'oinccl  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  considerable  increase  in  1920  over  the  value  of  $5425  in  1919  is 
due  mainly  to  shipments  of  quartz  crystals  from  Calaveras  Couuty  and 
Iceland  spar  from  Modoc  County,  both  of  which  were  sold  for  optical 
purposes,  which  demand  material  of  gem  quality  and  freedom  from  flaws. 

Between  1912  and  1920,  the  gem  output  of  California  has  been  small, 
owing  to  the  lack  of  demand. 

California  tourmalines  are  decidedly  distinctive  in  coloring  and  'fire' 
as  compared  to  foreign  stones  of  this  classification.  The  colors  range 
from  deep  ruby  to  pink,  and  various  shades  of  green  ;  also  a  blue  tourma- 
line has  been  found. 

Two  of  our  California  gem  stones,  kunzite  and  benitoite,  are  not  found 
elsewhere;  and  these,  each  in  but  a  single  locality  here:  the  former  in 
Pala  Chief  Mine  in  San  Diego  County,  and  the  latter  in  the  Dallas  Mine 
in  San  Benito  County. 

Calif ornite,  or  'California  jade,'  is  a  gem  variety  of  vesuviante,  and 
is  green  or  white  in  color. 

Some  rhodonite  has  been  mined  in  Siskiyou  County,  and  used  for 
decorative  purposes,  its  value  being  included  in  the  marble  figures. 

Diamonds  have  been  found  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California ; 
but  in  every  case,  the}'  have  been  obtained  in  stream  gravels  while 
working  them  for  gold.  The  principal  districts  have  been:  Volcano  in 
Amador  County;  Placerville,  Smith's  Flat  and  others  in  El  Dorado 
County ;  French  Corral,  Nevada  County ;  Cherokee  Flat  and  Yankee  Hill, 
Butte  County;  Gopher  Hill  and  upper  Spanish  Creek,  Plumas  County. 
The  most  productive  district  of  recent  years  has  been  Cherokee  in  Butte 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


125 


County.  One  stone  weighing  1.85  carats  wa.s  found  in  Morris  Ravine, 
near  Cherokee,  in  1920. 

Chrysoprase  has  been  produced  in  Tulare  County. 

The  value  of  the  total  gem  production  in  California  annually  since  the 
beginning  of  commercial  production  is  as  follows : 


Year 

Value      '                           Tear 

Value 

1900 -    

$20,500 
40,000 
162,100 
110,500 
136,000 
148,500 
497,090 
232,642 
208,950 
193,700 
237,475 
51,824 

1912 

$23,050 

1901 

1913 

1914 

1915 

13,740 

1902 --    -             - 

3,970 

1903 

3,565 

1904     ..             -             -      

1916 ..    ... 

4,752 

1905 

1906       -      -             -      ._-    

1917 

1918    -.    ..                

3,049 
650 

1907 

1919 

1920-                  .      . 

5,425 

1908 

36,056 

1909 

Total               -_      . 

1910                            .      - 

$2,133,538 

1911 

GRAPHITE. 

BihVtography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIII,  XIV,  XV.     Bul- 
letin 67.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.,  19U,  Pt.  II. 

Graphite  has  been  produced  from  time  to  time  in  tlie  state,  coming 
principally  from  Scnoma  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  It  is  difficult  for 
these  deposits,  Avhich  arc  not  high  gi'ade,  to  compete  with  foreign  supplies 
whicli  go  on  the  market  almost  directly  as  they  come  from  the  deposit. 
Low-grade  ores  are  concentrated  v^ith  considerable  difficulty  and  the 
electric  process  of  manufacturing  artificial  graphite  from  coal  has  been 
perfected  to  such  a  degree  that  only  deposits  of  natural  graphite  of  a 
superior  cpiality  can  be  exploited  with  any  certainty  of  success. 

According  to  a  recent  report  by  LT.  S.  Geological  Survey,  "at  present 
prices,  miners  in  this  country  who  are  working  disseminated  flake 
deposits  must  depend  on  their  No.  1  and  2  flake  for  their  profit.  Graphite 
dust  is  mereh"  a  by-product  and  is  salable  only  at  a  low  price.  Improved 
methods  of  graphite  milling,  adopted  *  *  *  promise  to  increase  largely 
the  production  of  flake  of  better  grade." 

On  account  of  its  infusil)ility  and  resistance  to  the  action  of  molten 
metals,  graphite  is  very  valuable.  It  is  also  largely  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  electrical  appliances,  of  'lead'  pencils,  as  a  lubricant,  as  stove 
polish,  paints,  and  in  many  other  ways.  Amorphous  graphite,  commonly 
carrying  many  impurities,  brings  a  much  lower  price.  For  some  pur- 
poses, such  as  foundry  facings,  etc.,  the  low-grade  material  is  satisfactory. 
The  price  increases  with  the  grade  of  the  material  until  the  best  quality 
crystalline  variety  ordinarily  ranges  as  high  as  $200  per  ton.    Because  of 


126 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


ir-  J"   '  '^  ' 


-  c 

-  D. 


.-   Oh 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


127 


the  increased  demand  durinjr  the  war  period  for  brass  and  crucible  steel, 
the  requirement  for  graphite  crucibles  grew  rapidly,  thus  boosting  the 
price  of  flake  graphite  to  above  Jfi400  per  ton  for  Ceylon  lumps.  The 
coarser  flakes  are  necessary  for  crucibles,  as  they  help  to  bind  the  clay 
together  in  addition  to  their  refractory  service.  Since  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities in  Europe,  prices  have  declined  to  nearly  the  pre-war  level ;  and 
imports  have  been  resumed  from  Ceylon.  Canada  and  ^Madagascar,  ^lex- 
ico,  Canada,  Korea,  and  others  in  the  order  named  of  a  total  of  21,095 
tons  valued  at  $1,711,312  in  1920.    Nearly  50%  of  this  was  from  Ceylon. 

Among  the  newer  uses  for  graphite  is  the  prevention  of  formation  of 
scale  in  boilers.  The  action  is  a  mechanical  one.  Being  soft  and  slippery, 
the  graphite  prevents  the  particles  of  scale  from  adhering  to  one  another 
or  to  the  boiler  and  they  are  thus  easily  removed. 

Occurrence  of  graphite  has  been  reported  at  various  times  from 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Imperial,  Los  Angeles,  Mendocino,  San  Bernardino, 
Xan  Diego,  Siskiyou,  Sonoma  and  Tuolumne  counties. 

During  1920  a  slightly  decreased  production  was  reported  from  Los 
Angeles  County.  It  was  concentrated  from  a  disseminated  ore,  and  was 
used  for  paint,  ft)undry  facing,  and  lubricants.  As  there  was  l)ut  a  single 
operator,  the  figures  are  concealed  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item. 
The  production,  by  years,  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 

Pounds 

Value 

1901    - 

128,000 
84,000 

$4,480 
1,680 

1902   

1903    

1913    

2,500 

25 

1914    

1915    

1916       ....    - 

29,190 
*770,000 

■>  335 

1917    -    .-      . 

1918   ..._    .... 

1919   

37,225 

1920   _        _^  _     ^ 

Totals 

1,013,690 

$45,745 

•Concealed  under  'Unapportioned,'  on  account  of  a   sinj^lc  iirodiicr. 


GYPSUM. 
Bibliography:  Reports  XIV,  XV.    BiUletins  38,  67. 

(rypsum  is  widely  disti*il)uted  throughout  the  state,  and  is  produced 
to  a  considerable  extent,  to  supply  the  fertilizer  manufacturers  and  also 
tliase  of  plaster  and  cement. 

The  action  of  gypsum  as  a  fertilizer  was  formerly  considered  to  be 
indirect' ;  that  it  was  not  a  food  for  plants,  but  it  is  supposed  to  act  on 
the  double  silicate  of  magnesia  and  potash  in  the  soil,  freeing  the  mag- 
nesia and  potash,  so  that  they  become  available  as  plant  food.     Its  use 

'U.  S.  G.  S.  Press  Bulletin  No.  374.  July.  191S.  p.  -1. 


128 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


was  believed  to  be  beneficial  only  if  these  elements  are  present  in  the 
soil.  More  recently,  investigations  are  stated  to  prove  that  gypsum  serves 
as  a  source  of  both  sulphur  and  calcium,  which  are  plant  foods. 

Some  authorities  hold  that  land  plaster  tends  to  make  nonporous  clay 
soils  more  pervious  to  water  and  to  make  sandy  soils  less  pervious. 
Ground  gypsum  has  an  affinity  for  water  and  will  draw  moisture  from 
the  atmosphere,  so  it  keeps  moisture  in  the  soil  and  is  of  value  to  the 
farmer  who  is  starting  grain  and  grass  crops,  as  it  holds  moisture  where 
the  roots  of  the  small  plants  most  need  it.  The  use  of  ground  gypsum  or 
land  plaster  in  a  dry,  hot  season  may  draw  enough  moisture  from  the 
atmosphere  to  save  a  crop  from  damage  by  drought.  Land  plaster  is 
employed  to  neutralize  the  black  alkali  that  forms  in  many  of  the  soils 
of  arid  regions,  as  in  parts  of  California,  Nevada  and  Utah. 

Land  plaster  may  be  applied  to  the  soil  by  drilling,  or  scattered  in  thej 
hill,  or  it  may  be  sowed  broadcast,  in  quantities  ranging  from  200  to  5( 
pounds  to  the  acre. 

In  the  calcined  form  as  plaster  of  Paris,  gypsum  plays  a  very  important 
part  in  surgical  work.  It  is  also  widely  used  in  building  operations,  as  a 
hard-wall  plaster,  as  plaster  board,  etc. 

During  1920,  producers  in  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  counties  took 
out  a  total  of  20,507  tons,  valued  at  $92,535,  being  an  increase  from  the 
19,813  tons,  valued  at  $50,579,  in  1919. 

Total  annual  production  of  gypsum  in  California  since  such  records 
have  been  compiled  by  this  Bureau  is  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1887 ,  2,700 

1888 2,500 

1889 3,000 

1890 '  3,0(X) 

1891  I  2,000 

1892 ''  2,000 

1893 1,620 

1894 2,4-16 

1895 5,158 

1896 1,310 

1897 '  2,200 

1898 '  3,100 

1899 3,663 

1900 ;  2,522 

1901 i  3,875 

1902 !  10,200 

1903 I  6,914 

1904 1  8,360 


$27,1 
25, 
30, 
30, 
20, 
20, 
14, 
24, 
51, 
12, 
19, 
23, 
14, 
10, 
38, 
53, 
46, 
56, 


000 

ooo 

000 

ooo 

000 

ooo 

280 
584 
014 
580 
,250 
600 
950 
,088 
,750 
,5€0 
,441 
,592 


1805 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 


12,859 
21,000 
8,900 
34,600 
30.700 
45,294 
31,457 
37,529 
47,100 
29,734 
20,200 
33,384 
30,825 
19,695 
19,813 
20,507 


$54,500 

69,000 

57,700 

155,400 

138,176 

129,152 

101,475 

117,388 

135,050 

78,375 

48,953 

59,533 

56,840 

37,176 

50,579 

92,535 


510,146 


$1,899,461 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  129 

INFUSORIAL  and  DIATOMACEOUS  EARTHS. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletins  38,  67.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  Bull.  104,  August,  1915, 
pp.  1539-1550. 

Infusorial  and  diatomaceous  earths — sometimes  called  tripolite — are 
very  light  and  extremely  porous,  chalk-like  materials  composed  of  pure 
silica  (chalk,  being  calcareous)  which  have  been  laid  down  under  water 
and  consist  of  the  remains  of  microscopical  infusoria  and  diatoms.  The 
former  are  animal  remains,  and  the  latter  are  from  plants.  The  principal 
commercial  use  of  this  material  is  as  an  absorbent;  and  it  is  also  em- 
ployed in  the  manufacture  of  scouring  soap  and  polishing  powders,  and 
in  making  some  classes  of  refractory  brick,  and  as  an  iiLsulating  medium 
both  in  heating  and  refrigeration.  It  is  a  first-class  nonconductor  of 
heat,  where  high  temperatures  are  employed,  such  as  around  steel  and 
gas  plants  and  power  houses.  In  such  cases,  it  is  built  in  as  an  insulating 
layer  in  furnace  walls.  In  Germany,  under  the  name  "  kieselguhr, '  it 
was  used  as  an  absorbent  for  nitroglycerine  in  the  early  manufacture  of 
dynamite. 

As  a  non-conductor  of  heat  it  has  been  used  alone  or  with  other  mate- 
rials as  a  covering  for  boilers,  steam  pipes,  and  safes  and  in  fireproof 
cements.  It  is  used  largely  by  paint  manufacturers  as  a  wood  filler. 
Boiled  with  shellac  it  is  made  into  records  for  talking  machines.  It  has 
been  used  for  absorbing  liquid  manures  so  that  they  could  be  utilized  as 
fertilizers,  and  as  a  source  of  silica  in  making  water-glass  as  well  as  in 
the  manufacture  of  cement,  tile  glazing,  artificial  stone,  ultra-marine 
and  other  pigments  of  aniline  and  alizarine  colors,  paper  filling,  sealing 
wax,  fireworks,  hard-rubber  objects,  matches,  and  papier  mache,  and  for 
solidifying  bromine.  For  making  insulating  brick  the  material  is  sawed 
from  blocks,  and  for  all  other  purposes  it  is  ground  and  screened. 

The  most  important  deposits  in  California  thus  far  known  are  located 
in  Monterey,  Orange,  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 
The  Santa  Barbara  material  is  diatomaceous  and  is  of  a  superior 
quality.  Infusorial  earth  is  also  found  in  Fresno,  Kern,  Los  Angeles, 
Plumas,  San  Benito,  San  Bernardino,  San  Joaquin,  Shasta,  Sonoma, 
and  Tehama  counties. 

During  1920,  five  quarries  operating  in  Los  Angeles,  INIonterey  and 
Santa  Barbara  counties,  produced  a  total  of  60,764  tons,  valued  at 
$1,056,260,  which  is  a  material  increase  over  the  40,200  tons,  valued  at 
$217,800  in  1919. 


9— 128G5 


130 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  first  recorded  prodiietion  of  these  materials  in  California  occurred 
in  1889;  total  amount  and  value  of  output,  to  date,  are  as  follows: 


Year 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1901 
1905 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


39    $1,335  1906 
—J      -J  1S07 

..  I I  1908 

...J 1909 

50    2,000  I  1910 


422 
2,703 
6,950 
3,000 


2,040 


200 


1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


2,430 

2,531 

2,950 

500 

1.843 

2,194 

4,129 

8,&45 

12,840 

12,400 

15,322 

24.301 

35,963 

40,200 

60,764 


Totals i     240,232 


Value 

$14,400 

28,948 

32.012 

3,500 

17.617 

19.670 

17,074 

35,968 

80.350 

62.000 

80,649 

127.510 

189,459 

217,800 

1,056,260 


$2,134,621 


LIMESTONE. 

BiUiographij  :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38.     Oregon  Agr.  College  Extension  Bulletin,  305. 

Limestone  was  produced  in  10  counties  during  1920,  to  the  amount  of 
90,120  tons,  valued  at  $298,197,  being  a  slight  increase  over  the  88,291 
tons  and  $248,145  of  1919.  The  very  considerable  decrease  in  1919  from 
208,566  tons,  valued  at  $456,258  in  1918,  was  due  in  part  to  the  shut- 
down of  the  Shasta  County  copper  smelters,  whieli  use  large  tonnages  of 
limestone  as  tlux.  Those  plants  continued  idle  in  1920.  The  amount 
here  given  does  not  include  the  limestone  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
cement  nor  of  lime  for  building  purposes,  but  accounts  for  that  utilized 
as  a  smelter  flux,  for  glass  and  sugar  making,  and  in  other  chemical 
and  manufacturing  processes  (including  fertilizers,  'roofing  gravel,' 
whiting  for  paint,  kalsomine,  terrazzo,  chicken  grit,  and  for  CO2). 

In  agriculture,  the  chief  reason  for  the  use  of  lime  is  now  recognized 
to  be  that  of  correcting  soil  acidity.  Lime  is  stated  to  be  especially 
necessary  for  the  proper  development  of  the  bacteria  in  tlie  nodules  on 
the  roots  of  the  legumes  such  as  the  clovers  and  alfalfa.  It  will  also 
combine  with  some  of  the  plant  food  materials  already  in  the  soil  to  make 
them  more  readily  available,  and  will  supply  any  lack  of  calcium  as  a 
plant  food  that^may  exist  in  the  soil.  To  some  extent,  certain  forms  of 
lime  will  make  heavy  soils  more  friable,  thus  aiding  aeration,  cultivation 
and  drainage.  It  may  l)e  applied,  ground,  in  either  the  burned  or 
unburned  form,  or  as  hydi'ated  lime. 


STATISTICS    OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


131 


Distribution  of  the  1920  output  is  as  follows : 


County 


El  Dorado  

Inyo 

San  Bernardino 

Santa  Cruz 

Tuolumne 

Santa  Clara",  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Solano'',  Tulare*. 

Totals 


Tons 


90,120 


Value 


41,109 

$139,873 

15.240 

31.0S0 

9,300 

48,150 

5,062 

20,101 

7,494 

15,288 

11,915 

43,705 

$298,197 


Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  s-ingle  operator  in  each. 
'Clain-stiell  marl,  used   for  fertilizer. 
*'  "Lime  ilu«t.' 


Hauliiifr  'whiting'   (calcium  carbonate)  from  White  Boy  Claim  of  Seipp  and  M.rwin, 
on  edge  of  Death  Valley,  Inyo  County,  California.     Photo  by  S.  R.  Merwin. 


132 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


In  the  early  reports  of  this  Bureau  values  for  lime  aud  limestone  were 
not  segregated.  The  following  tabulation  shows  the  total  combined  value 
of  such  material  since  records  for  the  state  were  first  compiled,  in  1887, 
to  date : 


Tear 


1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 


Value 


Tear 


$368,750  1905 
381,750  1 1906 
41^,780  1907 
350,000  1908 
300,000  1909 
300,000  il910 
301,276  i  1911 
337.975  !  1912 
457,784  11 1913 
332,617  |{  1914 
291,465  li  1915 
278,558  I'  1916 
343.760  1917 
315,231  1918 
434,133 
460.140 
582,268 
658,956 


1915. 
1920. 


Value 


;878,647 
925,887 
,162.417 
676,507 
997,745 
,058,891 
843,778 
,034.688 
803.002 
896,376 
442.592 
608.208 
"667.776 
917.573 
800,188 
855.429 


Total. 


$20,481,147 


LITHIA. 

Bibliography :  State  IMineralogist  Reports  II,  IV,  XIV.    Bulletins 
38,  67. 

Lithia  mica,  lepidolite  (a  silicate  of  lithium  et  al.)  utilized  in  the 
manufacture  of  artificial  mineral  water,  fireworks,  gla.ss,  etc.,  has  been 
•mined  in  San  Diego  County  since  1899,  except  between  1905  and  1915. 
Some  amblygonite,  a  lithium  phosphate,  has  also  been  obtained  from 
pockets  associated  with  the  gem  tourmalines.  In  1919,  the  jaeld  of  lepi- 
jdolite  was  10,046  tons,  valued  at  $153,502  from  two  properties,  and  was 
iitilized  in  glass  manufacture. 
^  Lithia  mica  total  production  in  the  state  has  been  as  follows : 


'                   Tear                 1      Tons           Value                         Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1899 !           124         $4,600 

i900  — - i          440  !      11,000 

1901 1,100         27,500 

1902 '           822         31.880 

1903 I           700         27,300 

1904 641         25,000 

1905 25             276 

1906 I 

1915 

,1916  

,1917  

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 

91 

71 

880 

4,111 

800 

10,046 

$1,365 

1.065 

8,800 

73,998 

14.400 

153,502 

15.851 

$380,686 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  the  only  other  production  of 
lithium  minerals  in  the  United  States  outside  of  California  in  1920  was 
spodumene  from  South  Dakota. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  133 

MICA. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  IV.    Bulletins  38,  67. 

No  commercial  production  of  mica  has  recently  been  reported  in 
California.    Production  in  previous  years  has  been  as  follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1902                                             -    

50 

50 

50 

$2,500 

1903                             -         

3,800 

1904               -    --    --   --    

3,000 

Totals 

150 

$9,300 

'"The  different  uses  to  which  mica  is  put  depend  on  its  form — whether  in  sheets  or  in 
powder.  Sheet  mica  is  used  in  the  electrical  industry,  for  glazing,  and  to  some  extent 
for  other  purposes.  Ground  mica  is  used  chiefly  in  the  decorative  trades  and  in 
insulation. 

"Sheet  mica  finds  its  greatest  use  in  the  electrical  industry,  where  an  insulating,  non- 
inflammable  material  is  necessary.  It  is  used  in  sheets  and  as  washers  and  disks  in 
dynamo-electric  machinery,  electric-light  sockets,  spark  plugs,  insulators,  guards  in 
rheostats,  fuse  boxes,  and  telephones.  Flexible  cloth  and  tape,  covered  with  mica,  find 
varied  uses  in  electrical  apparatus.  Sheet  mica  is  u.sed  for  glazing  the  fronts  of  stoves 
and  for  making  lamp  chimneys  and  lamp  shades.  It  is  also  used  in  spectacles,  auto- 
mobile shields,  phonograph  diaphragms,  in  windows  where  glass  would  be  broken,  and 
In  lantern  transparencies. 

"Ground  mica  is  used  for  decoration  in  wall  paper,  to  which  it  gives  luster  and 
brightness  ;  in  fancy  paints,  ornamental  tiles,  concrete,  rubber  goods,  pipe  and  boiler 
coverings,  insulating  compounds,  fireproof  paints  and  coverings,  patent  roofing 
material,  molded  mica  (ground  mica  mixed  with  shellac),  and  calico  printing;  as 
absorbent  for  nitroglycerin  in  the  manufacture  of  'mica  powder,'  in  tempering  steel ; 
to  a  large  extent  as  a  lubricant  for  wooden  bearings,  or,  mixed  with  oil,  as  a  lubri- 
cant for  metal  bearings  ;  and  as  a  filler  for  various  products.  Tar  and  other  roofing 
papers  are  coated  with  coarsely  ground  mica  to  prevent  sticking  when  they  are 
rolled  for  shipment.  A  possible  vaUie  of  ground  mica  as  a  chemical  source  of  potash 
salts  is  indicated  in  a   recent  Geological   Survey  report. ^ 

"It  is  understood  that  sheet  mica  has  come  to  be  of  importance  as  a  war  mineral 
through  its  use  abroad  as  windows  in  masks  worn  for  defense  against  asphyxiating 
gases,  and  for  other  uses  where  a  transparent,  nonin flammable,  nonshattering  material 
is  necessary,  as  in  automobile  goggles  and  in  windows  for  armored  cars." 

MINERAL  PAINT. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38. 

IMineral  paint  was  produced  in  California  in  1920  from  seven  mines 
in  five  counties,  amounting  to  779  tons,  valued  at  $8,477.  This  is  less 
than  one-half  the  output  of  1919,  but  an  increase  over  the  tonnage  and 
value  of  1918.  There  were  three  producers  in  Stanislaas  County  and  one 
each  in  Alameda,  Amador,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Ventura.  There  were  no 
shipments  from  Colusa  County  in  1920.  The  material  from  Colusa 
i.s  siliceous  hematite,  and  that  from  Stanislaus,  yellow  ochre.  The 
Calaveras  and  Stanislaus  yellow  ochre  is  the  equal  of  any  of  the  im- 
portant ochres.  The  Santa  Cruz  product  was  magnetite  concentrated 
from  beach  sands. 

Besides  the  above-named  counties,  deposits  of  mineral  paint  are  located 
in  the  following:  Colusa,  Kern,  Kings,  Lake,  Los  Angeles,  Nevada, 
Riverside,  and  Sonoma. 

;^Schaller.  W.  T.,  Mica  in  1916  :  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1916,  p.  304,  1917. 
-Butler,  B.  S.,  Potash  in  certain  copper  and  gold  ores,  with  a  note  on  muscovite  by 
George   Steiger :  U.   S.   Geol.   Survey   Bull.   620,  pp.    227-235,   1916. 


134 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  first  recorded  production  of  this  material  in  the  state  was  in  tlio 
year  1890.  The  output  showing  annual  amount  and  value,  since  that 
time,  is  given  herewith  : 


Tear 


Tons 


1890 1  40 

1891  22 

1892 25 

1893 :  590 

18&4 610 

1895 750 

1896 395 

1897 578 

1898 653 

1899 1,704 

1900 529 

1901  325 

1902 589 

1903 2,370 

1904 ;  270 

1905 I  754 

1906 !  250 


Value 


750 

26,795 

14,140 

8,425 

5,540 

8,165 

9.698 

20,294 

3,993 

875 

1,533 

3,720 

1.985 

4,025 

1,720 


Tear 

1907 

190« 

1S09 

1910 

1911  

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 


Toes 

250 
335 
305 
200 
186 
300 
303 
132 
311 
643 
520 
728 
1,780 
779 


17,226 


Value 


720 
250 
325 
040 

184 
8C0 
780 
847 
756 
960 
700 
738 
.055 
477 


$158,650 


MINERAL  WATER. 

Bihliography :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VI,  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Water  Supply  Paper  338. 

A  widespread  production  of  mineral  water  is  shown  annually  in 
California.  These  figures  refer  to  mineral  water  actually  bottled  for  sale, 
or  for  local  consumption.  Water  from  some  of  the  springs  having  a 
special  medicinal  value  brings  a  price  many  times  higher  than  the  average 
shown,  while  in  some  cases  the  water  is  used  merely  for  drinking  purposes 
and  sells  for  a  nominal  figure.  Health  and  pleasure  resorts  arc  located 
at  many  of  the  springs.  The  waters  of  some  of  the  hot  springs  are  not 
suitable  for  drinking,  but  are  very  efficacious  for  bathing.  From  a 
therapeutic  standpoint,  California  is  particularly  rich  in  mineral  springs. 
The  counterparts  of  practically  any  of  the  world-famed  spas  of  Europe 
or  the  eastern  United  States  can  be  found  here. 

An  interesting,  recent  development  is  the  obtaining  of  'ge.yser'  wells 
at  Calistoga,  in  Napa  County,  by  drilling  into  the  thermal-water  strata 
underlying  that  part  of  the  Napa  Valley.  There  are  at  least  four  wells 
so  erupting.  The.y  spout  in  true  geyser  fashion,  and  their  periods  vary 
from  10  minutes  to  2  hours,  each  following  its  own  schedule  rather 
closely. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  State  Mining  Bureau  will  be  able  in  the  near  future 
to  make  some  systematic  tests  as  to  the  radio-activity  of  the  thermal 
w^aters  of  the  hot  springs  of  California.  Some  preliminary  qualitative 
tests  have  been  made  by  the  writer  at  The  Geysers  in  Sonoma  County, 


r 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


135 


and  positive  reactions  obtained ;  also,  radio-activity  has  been  proven  at 
Arrowhead  Hot  Springs  in  San  Bernardino  County,  by  Prof.  Gilbert  E. 
Baih^v  of  the  University  of  Southern  California. 


'Bartletf  spring,  at  Bartlett  Springs,  Lake  County,  California. 

Coiiinierc'ial  production  by  coimties,  for  1920,  was : 

County  Gallons 

Butte 6,400 

Calaveras 5,120 

Lake 43,693 

Los  Angeles  161,466 

Monterey 200 

Napa   80,431 

San  Bernardino 1,110,190 

Santa  Barbara 95,843 

Santa  Clara 3,360 

Siskiyou   3C0,lo0 

Sonoma  29,928 

Contra  Costa.  Humboldt,  Marin,  Kiverside,  San  Benito, 

San  Diego,  Solano*.. _ 555,010 

Totals 2,391.791 

*  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Value 


$5,200 

512 

16,413 

10,371 

20 

38,621 

156,726 

110,931 

480 

60,015 

6,578 

15.776 


$421,643 


136 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  production  above  tabulated  was  in  part  bottled  with  artificial 
carbonation,  in  part  natural,  and  a  large  part  was  used  in  the  preparation 
of  soft  drinks  with  flavors. 


AgTia  Caliente  Springs,   Sonoma  County.     Main  building,  from  local  trachytic  tuff. 


Amount  and  value  of  mineral  water  produced  in  California  since  1887 
are  given  herewith : 


Year                     Gallons             Value 

Year               |      Gallons 

Value 

1887 '        618,162         $144,368 

1888 :      1,112,202           252,990 

1889    -  -           _.      ■        808,625           252,241 

1905 2,194,150 

1906 ^      1,585,690 

K07                                 9.ty:>4.969 

$538,700 
478,186 
&44  016 

1890 i        258,722            89,786 

1891 334,553           139.959 

1892 331,875           162,019 

1893 383,179            90,667 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911        .    --    .    _ 

2,789,715 
2,449,834 
2,335,259 
2,637,669 

560,507 
465,488 
522,009 
590,654 

1894 -         402,275           184,481 

1912 

2,497,791 
2,350,792 
2,443,572 
2.274,267 
2,273,817 
1,942.020 
1,808,791 
2,233,842 
2,391,791 

529,384 

1895 701,397           291,500 

1896 808,843           337,434 

1897 1,508,192           345.863 

1898 1,429,809           213,817 

1899 1.338,537           406,691 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 --      -    - 

599,748 
476,169 
467,738 
410,112 
340.566 

1900 2,456,115           268,607 

1901  1,555,328           559,057 

1902 1,701,142           612,477 

1903 2,a56.340           558,201 

1904 2,430,320           496,946 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 

375,650 
340,117 
421,643 

57,368,888 

$13,067,791 

STATISTICS   OF  ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  137 

PHOSPHATES. 

Bibliography :  Bulletin  67. 

No  commercial  production  of  phosphates  has  been  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornia, though  occasional  pockets  of  the  lithia  phosphate,  amblj^gonite, 
Li  (AlF)  PO4,  have  been  found  associated  with  the  gem  tourmaline 
deposits  in  San  Diego  County.  Such  production  has  been  classified  under 
lithia. 

A  deposit  of  phosphate  rock  is  reported  to  have  been  located  near  Big 
Pine  in  Inyo,  a  company  has  been  organized,  and  preparations  are  being 
made  to  develop  the  property. 

PUMICE  and  VOLCANIC  ASH. 

BibUograpliy  -.  State  IMincralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV.    Bulletin 
38  (see 'Tufa'). 

The  production  of  pumice  and  volcanic  ash  for  the  year  1920  amounted 
to  1537  tons,  valued  at  $25,890,  and  came  from  two  properties  in  Imperial 
County,  and  one  each  in  Humboldt,  Inyo,  Napa,  San  Francisco,  and 
Siskiyou  counties.  This  is  a  decrease  from  the  2388  tons,  valued  at 
$43,657  in  1919,  due  mainly  to  the  resumption  of  foreign  importations. 
The  material  from  Imperial  and  Siskiyou  counties  is  the  visieular,  block 
pumice,  these  being  practically  the  only  localities  in  the  United  States 
producing  this  class  of  rock,  which  is  stated  to  be  the  equal  of  the  foreign 
article.    The  Lipari  Islands,  Italy,  have  in  the  past  been  the  principal 


-  ^ 

- 

^c 

"..-.V;'^'' 

' 

*- :     . 

.'  *■ 

■•' 

^flflBh 

*"       '  ».  ■'•  ' 

Jg^^BI^H 

"^^             ■■         J       V 

'^''*^*llBl^^^H 

»    »  ■ 

.j^^m 

-  ■*  * 

^^B^^^F 

^      ' 

N     ^/    ^^K  ' 

r 

VM^  V  -H 

.  -^  -    ' 

-"^^^jB  ft 

>r 

^     ». 

^UT^                   r:mtt~    .■ 

-  ^^^^  >JB  : 

Brail. 1  iV  >!■  \i  MS  ].\niii(  I',  liiiin  ii:il  i(.unty.  Thirty-ton  dump  of  pumice,  selected  for 
grinding,  awaiting  sliipment.  Sliows  average  size  of  material  obtained.  Photo  by  Emile 
Huguenin. 


138 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


source  of  supply  of  block  pumice.  This  form  is  used  largely  for  abrasive 
purposes;  and  is  also  being  utilized  in  fire-brick,  and  as  an  insulating 
filler  in  the  walls  of  refrigerators  and  cold-storage  plants.  It  is  also 
being  tried  in  concrete.  There  are  other  known  deposits  of  block  pumice 
in  California,  in  Inyo,  ]\Iadera,  and  Mono  counties,  which  also  contain 
the  ash  variety.  The  material  from  Humboldt,  Napa,  and  San  Francisco 
counties  is  the  fine-grained,  volcanic  ash,  or  tuff  variety.  It  is  employed 
in  making  scouring  soaps  and  polishing  powders. 

Commercial  production  of  pumice  in  California  was  first  reported  to 
the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau  in  1909,  then  not  again  until  1912,  since  which 
year  there  has  been  a  small  annual  output,  as  indicated  by  the  following  \ 
table : 


Year 

Tons 

ValuQ 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1909 

50 

$500 

1916 

1917 

..-i         1.246 

— !            525 

$18,092 

1910 

5,295 

1911 -- 

1918    -  -        

2,114 

28,669 

1912        -             -      - 

100 

3,590 

50 

380 

2,500 
4,500 
1,000 
6,400 

1919 

1920 

Totals  -    .    - 

--.'        2,388 
.—         1,537 

43.657 

1913 

25,890 

1914 

1915 

._        11.980 

$136,503 

1 

PYRITES. 
Bibliography  :  Bulletin  38.    Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  114.  pp.  825,  840. 

Pyrite  is  mined  for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  which 
in  turn  is  used  in  large  quantities  in  the  preparation  of  explosives. 
Experiments  are  being  made  as  to  the  effect  of  sulphur,  sulphuric  acid, 
and  SO^  in  the  correction  and  fertilization  of  alkali  .soils.  Two  properties 
each  in  Alameda  and  Shasta  countie-s  reported  a  total  production  in  1920 
of  1-46,001  tons,  valued  at  $530,581,  which  is  a  slight  decrease  from  1919. 
The  material  shipped  carried  43%  to  47%  S. 

This  does  not  include  the  large  quantities  of  pyrite  which  are  other- 
wise treated  for  their  valuable  metal  contents.  Some  sulphuric  acid  is 
annually  made  as  a  by-product  in  the  course  of  roasting  certain  tonnages 
of  Mother  Lode  auriferous  concentrates  for  their  precious-metal  values. 
California  has,  available,  supplies  of  sulphide  ores  suitable  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sulphuric  acid  far  in  excess  of  the  local  requirements;  but  the 
excess  acid  if  made  here  is  not  of  suffieient  value  per  ton  to  pay  the 
freight  rates  to  Eastern  markets.  One  of  our  large  copper  smelters  here 
could,  alone,  flood  the  market  with  sulphuric  acid  from  its  copper  ores 
roasted. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


139 


The  total  recorded  pyrite  production  in  California  to  date  is  as  follows 


Year 


1898 
1899 
ICOO 
1?M 
1902 
190? 
1904 
19(Jo 
IPOG 
1907 
]ROS 

mB 

1910 


Tons 


6,000 

5,400 

3,642 

4.573 

17,525 

24,311 

15,043 

15,503 

46,689 

82,270 

107,081 

457,867 

42,621 


Value 


$30,000 
28,620 
21,133 
18,429 
60,306 


Year 


1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 


94,000  Ij  1916 
62,992  li  1917 


63,958 
145,895 
251.774 
610,335 
1,389,802 
179,862 


1918 
1919 
1920 


Totals 1 


Tons 

Value 

54,225 

$182,954 

69,872 

203,470 

79,000 

218,537 

79,267 

230,058 

92,462 

293,148 

120,525 

372,969 

111,325 

323,704 

128,329 

425,012 

147,024 

540,300 

146,001 

530,581 

1,856,560 

$6,277,889 

SILICA— SAND  and  QUARTZ. 

Bibliof/raphif:    State   jMiueralogist   Report,s    IX,    XIV.     Bulletins 

38,  67. 

We  combine  these  materials,  because  of  the  overlapping  roles  of  vein 
quartz  which  is  rained  for  use  in  glass  making  and  as  an  abrasive,  and 
that  of  silica  sand  which,  although  mainly  utilized  in  glass  manufacture, 
also  serves  as  an  abrasive.  Both  varieties  are  also  utilized  to  some  extent 
in  fire-brick  manufacture. 

A  portion  of  the  tonnage  of  vein  quartz  in  California  in  1916  and  1917 
was  employed  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-silicon  by  the  electric  furnace. 
Some  also  is  utilized  as  a  foundry  flux,  and  for  steel  easting  moulds.  A 
portion  of  the  silica  sold  (both  sand  and  quartz)  is  also  used  in  glazes  for 
l)orcelaiu,  pottery  and  tile;  and  some  of  the  sand  for  the  preparation  of 
sodium  silicate  ('water  glass'). 

The  production  of  silica  in  1920  amounted  to  25,324  tons,  valued 
at  $96,793,  from  thirteen  properties  in  seven  counties,  distributed  as 
follows : 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Amador       -      _            _ 

6,116 
3,060 
a  195 
7,557 
5,396 

$36,432 

Kern       _           -- 

20,100 

Riverside                                  -    --    --  -- 

12,581 

San  Diego    _    -_  -- 

18,893 

Monterey,  Placer* _.         _            .          „ 

8,787 

Totals    

25,324 

$96,793 

'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Of  the  above  total,  7102  tons  were  of  vein  and  boulder  quartz,  and 
18,222  tons,  sand. 

Practically  all  the  glass  sand  produced  in  California  occurs  as  such, 
and  needs  no  grinding.    There  arc  various  deposits  of  quartz  which  could 


140 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


be  utilized  for  glass  making,  but  to  date  there  has  been  only  a  small 
commercial  production  of  this  class  of  material. 

Silica  sand  has  been  produced  in  the  following  counties  of  the  state: 
Alameda,  Amador,  El  Dorado,  Los  Angeles,  Monterey,  Orange,  Placer, 
Riverside,  San  Joaquin,  and  Tulare.  The  chief  producing  centers  have 
been  Amador,  IMonterey,  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  industry  is  of 
limited  importance,  so  far,  because  of  the  fact  that  much  of  the  available 
material  is  not  of  a  grade  which  will  produce  first-class  colorless  glass ; 
for  such,  it  must  be  essentially  iron-free.  Even  a  fractional  per  cent  of 
iron  imparts  a  green  color  to  the  glass. 

Importations  of  glass  sand  from  Belgium  have  again  been  resumed. 

Total  silica  production  in  California  since  the  inception  of  the 
industry,  in  1899,  is  shown  below,  being  mainly  sand : 


Tear 


1899 

1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 


Tons 

Value 

3,000 

$3,500 

2,200 

2,200 

5,my 

16,250 

4,500 

12,225 

7,725 

7,525 

10,004 

12,276 

9,257 

8,121 

9,750 

13,375 

11.065 

8,178 

9,255 

22,045 

12,259 

25,517 

19,224 

18,265 

Year 


1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Totals 


Tons 


8,620 

$8,672 

13,075 

15,404 

18,618 

21,899 

28,538 

22,688 

28,904 

34,322 

20,880 

48,908 

19,376 

41,166 

23,257 

88,930 

18,659 

101,600 

25,324 

96,793 

308,490 

$629,859 

SOAPSTONE  and  TALC. 

Bihliographij :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV.  Bulletins 
38,  67.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Rep.  of  Investigations,  Serial  No. 
2253,  May,  1921. 

Talc — also  called  soapstone  or  steatite — occurs  widely  distributed 
throughout  California.  It  is  found  as  a  hydration  product  in  the  alter- 
ation of  magnesiau  silicates,  and  is  often  associated  with  serpentine  and 
actinolite.  A  few  deposits  have  been  proven  of  especial  value  to  date, 
and  there  is  an  undoubted  future  for  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry 
in  the  state.  Deposits  of  high-grade  white  talc,  the  equal  of  the  imported 
Italian  article,  are  now  being  developed  in  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino 
counties.  It  is  used  in  making  paper,  rubber,  toilet  articles,  soap,  rice 
polishing,  lubricants,  tiling,  as  a  paint  filler,  etc.,  and  for  such  is  ordi- 
narily ground  to  about  200  mesh  before  marketing.  In  this  condition 
it  brings  $15  per  ton  and  upwards,  depending  on  quality.  Some  of  the 
Inyo  talc  is  turned  and  bored  to  various  shapes  for  electrical  insulation 
in  such  appliances  as  coffee  percolators,  heaters,  and  the  like. 


STATISTICS   OP  ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  141 

Commercially,  the  higher  grades  are  called  talc,  and  the  lower,  soap- 
stone.  Soapstone  blocks  are  used  in  tireless  cookers,  electrical  switch- 
boards, laboratory'  table  tops  and  laundry  tubs ;  and  the  crushed  material 
is  used  in  roofing  papers. 

There  was  a  total  output  in  1920  of  11,327  tons,  valued  at  $221,362, 
from  two  producers  in  El  Dorado,  and  one  each  in  Amador,  Inyo,  and 
San  Bernardino.  This  is  an  increase  both  in  tonnage  and  value  over 
the  1919  output. 

Foreign  importations  of  high-grade  white  talc  suitable  for  the  manu- 
facture of  toilet  powder  have  come  mainly  from  Canada,  Italy  and 
France.  A  small,  irregular  production  of  white  talc  was  obtained  from 
certain  eastern  states,  but  the  material  fluctuated  in  quality  and  quantity 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  not  largely  used  by  manufacturers  of  the 
better-grade  toilet  powders.  Gradually  a  wall  of  prejudice  against  all 
domestic  talcs  grew  up  in  the  trade,  and  this  has  been  fostered  by  people 
interested  in  the  sale  of  the  imported  article. 

Deposits  of  high-grade  talc  in  California  have  been  known  for  several 
years,  but  little  interest  was  shown  in  them  until  1911-1912.  The  lack 
of  importations  during  1917-1919,  gave  California  an  opportunity  to 
demonstrate  the  quality  of  her  goods.     According  to  Ladoo  :^ 

"In  the  essential  qualities  of  pure  white  color,  freedom  from  grit,  and  fine-grain  size 
it  is  a  well-established  fact  that  the  best  California  talcs  equal  or  surpass  the  best 
imported  talcs.  In  the  debatable  qualities  of  slip  and  freedom  from  lime  some  of  the 
best  California  talcs  equal  some  of  the  best  imported  talcs  and  in  other  cases  excel  other 
imported  talcs.  Some  of  the  very  largest  consumers  of  toilet-grade  talc  have  expressed 
complete  satisfaction  with  the  high-grade  California  talcs  and  have  used  them  regularly 
in  preference  to  Italian  talc. 

"Therefore,  it  can  not  be  truthfully  said  that  the  United  States  produces  no  talcs 
r-qual  in  quality  to  imported  talcs.  Unfortunately  many  domestic  consumers  have  been 
.so  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  alleged  superiority  of  imported  talcs  that  domestic  talcs 
have  not  been  given  a  fair  chance.  It  is  even  reported  that  unscrupulous  dealers  have 
relabeled  domestic  talc  and  sold  it  as  Italian  talc,  with  perfect  satisfaction  to  the  con- 
sumers. Such  dishonest  trade  practices  are  probably  not  common,  but  they  serve  to 
refute  the  erroneous  statements  regarding  the  quality  of  domestic  talc." 

Speaking  of  the  Inyo  Talc  Company  property  near  Keeler,  in  Inyo 
County,  he  states : 

"This  company  owns  three  deposits  of  talc,  two  of  which  are  being  operated  and  the 
third  is  being  prospected.  The  talc  occurs  in  dolomite  as  lenses  of  irregular  size  and 
shape,  but  the  largest  lens  is  shaped  somewhat  like  a  boat.  The  talc  is  massive  and 
granular,  rather  than  fibrous  or  foliated,  and  the  crude  talc  varies  in  color  from  a 
light,  slate  gray  with  a  greenish  tint  to  a  pale  sea  green.  The  ground  product  is  a  clear, 
brilliant  white.  It  contains  practically  no  free  silica  and  averages  less  than  1  per  cent 
of  lime  (CaO).  •  *  *  Two  grades  of  ground  talc  are  made,  the  regular  Raymond  mill 
product  and  the  product  from  the  tubular  dust  collector.  These  are  sold  respectively  as 
Sierra  Snow  (99.6%  through  200  mesh),  and  Sierra  Cloud  (99.97c  through  300  mesh). 
The  relative  proportion  of  the  minus  300  mash  product  which  may  be  obtained  in  this 
method  of  grinding  depends  upon  the  nature  of  the  talc  and  the  adjustment  of  the 
machine.  When  the  Raymond  mill  or  any  other  fine  grinding  machine  is  adjusted  to 
give  an  increasingly  fine  product  the  capacity  is  more  than  proportionately  reduced. 
Fortunately,  this  talc  is  unusually  well  suited  to  this  type  of  grinder  and  ah  average  of 
nearly  15  per  cent  of  minus  300  mesh  product  is  maintained.  A  greater  proportion  could 
be  obtained,  but  at  an  unwarranted  increase  in  cost." 

The  Pacific  Coast  Talc  Company  is  also  described : 

"The  Pacific  Coast  Talc  Co.  operates  a  talc  mine  near  Silver  Lake,  San  Bernardino 
County,  and  a  grinding  mill  at  Los  Angeles.  The  mine  is  located  about  eight  miles  from 
the  railroad  and  the  crude  ore  is  hauled  by  a  5-ton  motor  truck  to  the  nearest  station, 

'Ladoo,  R.  B.,  High-grade  talc  and  the  California  talc  industry :  U.  S.  Bur.  of  M., 
Reports  of  Investigations,  Serial  No.  2253,  May,  1921. 


142 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Riggs,  on  the  Tonopah  &  Tidewater  nailroad.  The  crude  talc  is  a  pure^  silvery  white  in 
color  and  has  a  foliated  texture,  somewliat  resembling  tliat  from  tlie  Geo.  H.  Gillespie 
mine  at  Madoc,  Ontario,  Canada.  The  ground  product  is  a  very  clear,  silver  wiiite,  with 
a  very  good  slip,  no  grit  and  very  little  lime.  A  typical  analysis  shows  0.31%  calcium 
oxide".  The  ore  occurs  chiefly  as  irregular  shoots.  4  to  7  feet  thick,  dipping  at  an  angle 
of  about  57°  in  ferro-magnesian  schist.  The  crude  talc  is  very  pure  and  practically  no 
sorting  is  necessary  to  remove  impurities." 

In  1920,  importations  increased,  due  to  lower  ocean  freight  rates, 
cheaper  foreign  labor,  and  the  condition  of  foreign  exchange.  Coupled 
with  these,  California  operators  are  up  against  higher  transcontinental 
freight  rates  and  a  very  low  customs  import  duty. 

It  is  stated  that  in  Italy  the  mines  are  all  small  tunnel  working.^,  oper- 
ated in  the  main  by  people  of  limited  capital.  Few  of  the  companies 
have  their  own  mills,  the  mills  being  .separate  enterprises,  located  at  a 
central  point,  to  wliich  all  the  lump  talc  is  liaiiled  hy  teams.  Practically 
all  of  these  mines  are  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Italy,  in  the  district 
of  Pinerolo  (Van  Chisone),  near  Turin  (Torino),  in  the  province  of 
Piedmont. 

Production  has  been  intermittent  in  the  state  since  1893,  as  shown  in 
the  following  table : 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 


400 

$17,750 

25 

375 

10  I  119 

14  1  288 

219  I  10,124 

228  i  2.315 


1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 


30O 


3,000  I;  1920 


Totals. 


3 

$48 

33 

280 

740 

7.260 

1,750 

7,350 

1,350 

6,150 

1,000 

4,500 

1,663 

14,7CO 

1,703 

9,831 

5,267 

45,279 

11,760 

85,534 

8,764 

115,091 

11,327    221,362 


46,556   $551,406 


STRONTIUM. 
Bibliography :  Bulletin  67.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  510 ;  660-1. 

There  was  no  production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California  in  1919 
nor  1920,  though  in  1918  both  celestite  (SrSOJ,  and  the  carbonate, 
strontianite  (SrCO,)  were  shipped.  The  first  recorded  commercial  out- 
put of  strontium  minerals  in  California  was  in  1916.  The  occurrence  of 
the  carbonate  is  particularly  interesting  and  valuable,  as  it  appears  to 
be  the  first  considerable  deposit  of  commercial  importance  so  far  opened 
up  in  the  United  States.  Shipments  reported  as  averaging  80%  SrCOg 
have  been  made.  The  deposit  is  associated  wdth  deposits  of  barite.,  near 
Barstow,  San  Bernardino  County.  The  carbonate  has  also  been  found 
in  massive  form  near  Shoshone,  Inyo  County.     Specimens  from  this 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  143 

deposit  have  recently  been  received  and  identified  at  the  laboratory  of 
the  State  Mining  Bureau. 

In  addition  to  Imperial  County,  celestite  is  found  near  Calico  and 
Ludlow,  and  in  the  Avawatz  INIountains  in  San  Bernardino  County,  but 
as  yet  undeveloped.    The  above  noted  output  was  converted  to  the  nitrate. 

Production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California,  by  years,  has  been  as 
follows : 

Tear  Tons        |       Value 

1916  57  I     $2,850 

1917  3,050  I     37,000 

1918  2,900  j     33.000 

1919  — 

I 

Totals- 6,007  i  $72,850 


It  is  estimated  by  the  IT.  S.  Geological  Survey,  that  prior  to  1914  about 
2000  tons  of  strontium  nitrate  was  used  in  the  manufacture  of  flares,  or 
Costen  and  Bengal  lights  and  fireworks.  The  nitrate  was  imported  from 
Germany,  England  and  Sicily. 

There  is  a  future  for  the  strontium  minerals  in  California,  if  the  beet- 
sugar  factories  will  take  up  their  use,  as  has  been  done  in  Germany. 
Strontia  is  much  more  efficient  and  satisfactory  in  that  process  than 
lime,  as  it  is  stated  to  give  an  additional  recovery  of  6%-8%  over  lime. 
In  Germany  and  Russia,  about  100,000  tons  of  strontium  hydroxide 
were  used  annually  in  the  sugar  industry. 

Of  the  two  minerals,  strontianite  is  the  more  desirable,  but  scarcer. 
Celestite  is  more  abundant,  and  can  be  sold  at  about  $14-$18  per  ton  at 
the  Atlantic  seaboard.  The  carbonate  during  1918  brought  from  $40-$50 
per  ton,  crude,  depending  on  quality.  Celestite  is  found  with  limestones 
and  sandstones  and  is  sometimes  associated  with  gypsum.  Strontianite 
is  also  found  with  limestone,  but  associated  with  barite  and  calcite, 

SULPHUR. 

Bibliography:  State  :\Iineralogist  Reports  IV,  XIII,  XIV.     Bul- 
letins 38,  67. 

There  has  not  been,  for  many  years,  any  commercial  output  of  native 
snlpluir  in  California,  although  this  mineral  has  been  found  to  some 
extent  in  ColiLsa,  Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Lake,  IMariposa,  San  Bernardino, 
Sonoma,  Tehama,  and  Ventura  counties.  Operations  were  begun  late 
in  1917,  on  a  property  in  Inyo  County,  and  some  material  stated  to 
assay  40%  sulphur  was  mined.  Difficulties  were  encountered  in  refining 
it,  so  that  only  a  small  production  was  made,  but  none  shipped. 


144  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

At  the  Elgin  mine,  near  Wilbur  S!prings,  in  Colusa  County,  a  small 
tonnage  of  sulphur  Avas  prepared  toward  the  close  of  1918,  but  not 
shipped.  The  ore  body  is  stated  to  assay  52.6%  S.  over  a  width  of  22  feet. 
Two  retorts,  steam-heated,  were  installed,  with  a  capaeit}^  of  4500  pounds 
of  ore,  each,  per  charge.  There  is  a  large  body  of  material,  in  a  zone  at 
least  75  feet  wide,  impregnated  with  native  sulphur  crystals,  which  can 
be  cheaply  mined,  if  certain  mechanical  difficulties  of  melting  and 
cleaning  can  be  economically  overcome. 

Sulphur  was  produced  at  the  famous  Sulphur  Bank  mine,  in  Lake 
County,  during  the  years  1865-1868  (inc.)  totaling  941  tons,  valued  at 
$53,500;  following  which  the  property  became  more  valuable  for  its 
quicksilver.    The  Elgin  mine,  noted  above,  is  a  similar  occurrence. 

About  37,000  tons  of  sulphur  per  year  are  imported  to  the  United 
States  from  Japan,  most  of  it  coming  in  through  the  port  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. The  principal  sources  in  the  United  States  are  the  stratified 
deposits  in  Louisiana  and  Texas,  extraction  being  accomplished  by  a 
unique  system  of  wells  with  steam  pipes.  It  is  stated  that  the  three  large 
companies  operating  there  are  capable  of  producing  more  than  1,000,000 
tons  annually  in  excess  of  our  normal  consumption  in  the  United  States, 
which  averages  about  600,000  tons. 

Formerly  considerable  sulphur  was  imported  from  Italy,  the  Palermo 
district  being  the  principal  producer.  The  industry  is  under  the  control 
of  the  government,  and  exports  are  under  license.  According  to  a  U.  S. 
Consular  Report  :^ 

"Prices  range  from  $55  to  $57  for  crude,  to  $73  to  $85  for  refined.  As  American 
sulphur  is  cheaper  than  Sicilian,  it  Is  believed  that  should  freights  become  normal  it 
will  be  possible  to  import  American  sulphur  into  Italy." 


'Consular  Report,  Annual  Series,  No.  8c,  Nov.  29,  191'8,  p.  8. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


145 


CHAPTER  SIX. 


SALINES. 

Under  this  heading  are  included  borax,  common  salt,  soda,  potash,  and 
other  alkaline  salts.  The  first  two  have  l)een  produced  in  a  number  of 
localities  in  California,  more  or  less  regularly  since  the  early  sixties. 
Except  for  a  single  year's  absence,  soda  has  had  a  continuous  produc- 
tion since  1894.  Potash,  and  magnesium  chloride  and  sulphate  have 
only  recently  been  added  to  the  commercial  list,  while  the  nitrates  are 
still  prospective. 

Our  main  resources  of  salines  are  tlie  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions 
of  Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  San  Luis  Obispo, 
and  Siskiyou  counties,  and  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  amount  and  value  of  the  saline 
minerals  produced  in  California  during  the  years  1919  and  1920,  with 
increase  or  decrease  in  value  for  1920,  as  compared  w'ith  the  previous 
year: 


1919                        ,                       1920 

Inerease+ 

Substance 

1 
Tons        1       Value               Tons 

Value 

Decrease— 
Value 

Borax   

Magnesium  salts 

Potash    

Salt    

Soda  

66.791  !    $1,717,192  '        127,065 

1,616            82,457              3,150 

28,11S        2,415.963            26,298 

233,994           896,963           230.638 

21,294  j        721,958            32,407 

$2,794,206 

107,787 

1,465,463 

972,648 

1,164,898 

$1,077,014+ 
25,330+ 

950,500- 
75,685+ 

442,940+ 

Total  value 

..      .        '    $5,834,533 

$6,505,002 

Net  increase.    - 

$670,469 

1  """    '""        "         

BORAX. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  III,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.    Bulletins  24,  67. 

Borax  was  first  discovered  in  California  in  the  waters  of  Tuscan 
Springs  in  Tehama  County,  January  8,  1856.  Borax  Lake,  in  Lake 
County,  was  discovered  in  September  of  the  same  year  by  Dr.  John  A. 
Veatch.  This  deposit  was  worked  in  1864-1868,  inclusive,  and  during 
that  time  produced  1,181,365  pounds  of  refined  borax.  This  was  the 
first  commercial  output  of  this  salt  in  the  United  States,  and  California 
is  still  today  the  only  American  producer  of  borax. 

Production  from  the  dry  lake  'playa'  deposits  of  Inyo  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  began  in  1873 ;  but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the 
borax  industry  was  revolutionized  by  the  discovery  of  the  colemanite 
beds  at  Calico  in  San  Bernardino  Countv.    These  have  since  been  worked 


10— 12S65 


146 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


out,  and  the  output  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  coming  from  similar 
beds  in  Inyo  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  In  1920  San  Bernardino  County 
again  entered  the  field  with  shipments  of  such  ore  from  near  Daggett. 
The  colemanite  deposits  of  Ventura  County  are  at  present  unworked, 
owing  to  lack  of  transportation  facilities. 

During  1920  there  was  reported  a  total  output  of  127,065  tons,  valued 
at  $2,794,206,  compared  with  66,791  tons,  valued  at  $1,717,192  in  1919. 
As  in  1919,  this  also  includes  some  refined  borax  made  from  the  brine  of 
Searles  Lake  in  San  Bernardino  County. 

Colemanite  is  a  calcium  borate,  and  the  material  mined  is  mostly 
shipped  to  eastern  chemical  plants  for  refining.  Refined  'borax'  (sodium 
tetraborate)  is  used  in  making  the  enameled  coating  for  cast-iron  and 
steel-ware  employed  in  plumbing  fixtures,  chemical  equipment,  and 
kitchen  utensils.  It  is  also  a  constituent  of  borosilicate  glasses  which 
are  utilized  in  making  lamp  chimneys,  baking  dishes,  and  laboratory 
glassware.  Other  important  uses  of  borax  are  in  the  manufacture  of 
laundry  and  kitchen  soaps,  in  starch,  paper  sizing,  tanning,  welding,  and 
in  the  preparation  of  boric  acid,  which  is  employed  as  an  antiseptic  and 
in  preserving  meats. 

The  total  production  of  borax  in  California  is  shown  in  the  following 
table : 


Year 


18&4 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 


Tons 


12 

126 

201 

220 

32 


140 

515 

915 

1,168 

1,437 

993 

373 

364 

600 

690 

732 

900 

1,019 

942 

1,285 

1,015 

1,405 

965 

3,201 

4,267 

5,525 

3,955 


Year 


$9,478 

94,099 

132,538 

156,137 

22,384 


89,600 
255,440 
259,427 
289,080 
312,537 
193,705 
66,257 
65,443 
149,245 
189,750 
201,300 
265,500 
198,705 
155,430 
173,475 
116,689 
196,636 
145,473 
480,152 
640,000 
838,787 
593,292 


1894  .. 

1895  .. 

1896  .. 

1897  -_ 

1898  .. 

1899  .. 

1900  .. 

1901  .. 

1902  _.. 

1903  .. 

1904  .. 

1905  .. 

1906  .. 

1907  .. 

1908  .. 

1909  -. 

1910  - 

1911  .. 

1912  .. 

1913  .. 

1914  _. 

1915  - 

1916  _. 

1917  -. 

1918  - 

1919  .. 


Totals. 


Tons 


1920 127,065 


1,223,789 


Value 


5,770 

$807,807 

5,959 

595,900 

6,754 

675,400 

8,000 

1,060,000 

8,300 

1,153,000 

20,357 

1,139,882 

25,837 

1,013,251 

22,221 

982,380 

n7,202 

2,234,994 

3i430 

661,400 

45,647 

698,810 

46,334 

1,019,158 

58,173 

1,182,410 

53,413 

1,200,913 

22,200 

1,117,000 

16,628 

1,1^,960 

16,828 

1,177,960 

50,945 

1,456,672 

42,135 

1,122,713 

58,051 

1,491,530 

62,500 

1,483,500 

67,004 

1,663,521 

103,523 

2,409,375 

109,944 

2,561,958 

88,772 

1,867,908 

66,791 

1,717,192 

127,065 

2,794,206 

$42,763,359 


•Refined  borax. 


I 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  147 

MAGNESIUM  SALTS. 

Magnesium  chloride  is  an  important  item  in  certain  cbemieal  uses,  and 
in  the  preparation  of  Sorel  cement  in  laying  magnesite  floors.  Previous 
to  1915,  Germany  was  the  principal  source  of  this  chloride,  which  source 
was.  of  course,  cut  off  during  the  war.  Some  of  the  salt  companies  in 
California  began  its  commercial  preparation  in  1916,  from  the  residual 
bitterns  obtained  during  the  evaporation  of  sea  water  for  its  sodium 
chloride.  Also  experiments  have  been  made  to  prepare  it  by  acid  solution 
from  magnesite  which  is  so  abundant  in  California. 

In  addition  to  the  chloride,  some  magnesium  sulphate,  or  'technical 
epsom  salts,'  has  also  been  made  at  four  of  the  plants:  Oliver  Chemical 
Company  in  Alameda  County,  Whitney  Chemical  Company  in  San  ]\Iateo 
County,  the  ^Marine  Chemical  Company  at  Long  Beach,  Los  Angeles 
County,  and  the  California  Chemical  Company  at  San  Diego;  though 
but  two  of  them  reported  sales  of  the  sulphate  in  1920.  In  1919,  the 
]\Ierle  Magnesia  Company  at  Redwood  City,  San  Mateo  County,  pro- 
duced magnesium  carbonate  for  use  in  magnesia-asbestos  pipe  covering. 
In  1920,  the  average  price  reported  for  chloride  was  $35  per  ton,  and 
the  sulphate  at  $40  to  $60  per  ton. 

The  1920  output  of  chloride  and  sulphate  totaled  3150  tons,  valued 
at  $107,787,  from  Alameda,  Los  Angeles,  San  Diego  and  San  Mateo 
counties,  compared  with  1616  tons  and  $82,457  in  1919.  The  chloride 
was  utilized  in  Sorel  cement  for  flooring  and  stucco;  the  sulphate,  for 
tannery  and  medical  purposes. 

"With  the  use  of  magnesite  cement  and  stucco  coming  more  and  more 
into  vogue,  the  demand  for  magnesium  chloride  will  increase  in  propor- 
tion.   It  is  destined  to  become  an  important  industry. 

Bitterns  made  at  plants  on  San  Francisco  Bay  carry  23  to  86  parts 
of  magnesium  per  thousand,  or  2.3%  to  8.6%  magnesium.^ 

Metallic  magnesium  is  prepared  electrolyticalh',  utilizing  generally  an 
electrolyte  of  magnesium  chloride  and  an  alkaline  chloride.  Its  com- 
monest known  use  is  in  the  powdered  form  for  flash  lights  in  photog- 
raphy. During  the  war,  magnesium  was  put  in  shrapnel  shells,  that 
observers  and  gunners  miglit  know  exactly  Avhere  the  shells  were  burst- 
ing. By  day  the  burning  magesium  gives  a  dense  pure-white  cloud 
of  magnesium  oxide,  and  at  night  a  dazzling  white  light.  Larger 
quantities  were  used  in  aerial  bombs  and  rockets  for  lighting  up  the 
country  at  night.  Magnesium  has  as  yet  found  but  a  limited  direct 
use  as  a  metal.  Magnalium,  an  alloy  of  aluminum  containing  about 
2%  of  magnesium  and  small  percentages  of  other  metals,  is  stated  to 
be  used  in  automobiles  and  aeroplanes.  The  possibilities  for  further 
important  developments  in  this  direction  are  promising. 

'U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  Soils,  94,  p.  66,  1913. 


148  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

The  total  production  of  magnesium  salts  in  California  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  industry  here,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1916     .  -      ... 

851 

$6  407 

1917   

..              1,064 

34,973 

1918   

1,008 

29,955 

1919  

.    1            1,616 

82,457 

1920   

3,150 

107,787 

Totals    -    

_.J             7.689 

$261,579 

NITRATES. 

Bihliography :  Report  XV.  Bulletin  24.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Press  Bulletin 
No.  373,  July,  1918. 

Nitrates  of  sodium,  potassium  and  calcium  have  been  found  in  various 
places  in  the  desert  regions  of  the  state,  but  no  deposit  of  commercial 
value  has  been  developed  as  yet.  It  is  hoped  that  a  closer  search  may 
some  day  be  rewarded  by  workable  discoveries.  At  present  the  principal 
commercial  source  of  nitrates  is  the  Chilean  saltpeter  (sodium  nitrate) 
deposits  in  South  America. 

The  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically  has  been  accomplished 
successfully  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  The  possibilities  of  cheap 
hydro-electric  power  in  California  make  the  subject  one  of  intense 
interest  to  us,  as  we  have  also  the  natural  raw  materials  and  chemicals 
to  go  with  the  power.  Sodium  and  potassium  cyanides  can  be  made  by 
fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically. 

POTASH. 

Bihliography  :  Report  XV.  Bulletin  24.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  1913, 
1914,  1915.  Senate  Doc.  No.  190,  62d  Congress,  2d  Session.  Min- 
ing &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  112,  p.  155 ;  Vol.  114,  p.  789. 

Potash  production  began  commercially  in  California  in  1914,  with  a 
small  yield  from  kelp.  Considerable  time  and  money  has  been  spent  on 
research  work  incident  to  developing  deposits  of  potash-bearing  residues 
and  brines  in  the  old  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions,  and  production  there 
is  now  on  a  commercial  basis  at  two  plants  on  Searles  Lake.  A  third 
plant  is  preparing  for  production. 

The  imports  of  potash  salts  and  fertilizers  from  Germany  previous  to 
the  European  war  had  an  annual  value  of  several  millions  of  dollars,  and 
their  cessation  made  a  domestic  production  imperative. 

The  normal  pre-war  price  of  $35  to  $40  per  ton  for  high-grade  agri- 
cultural salts  has  been  succeeded  by  figures  of  several  times  those 
amounts,  so  that  in  April,  1916,  the  chloride  was  nominally  quoted  at 


J 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  149 

$425  per  ton  and  the  sulphate  from  $350  to  $400  per  ton.  The  selling 
priee  in  1920  at  point  of  shipment  for  potash  materials  ranged  from  $1.40 
to  $2.50  per  unit,  corresponding  to  $140  to  $250  per  ton  of  lOO^o  K.O. 

During  1920,  a  total  of  26.298  tons  of  potash -bearing  materials  of  all 
grades  was  produced  in  California,  valued  at  $1,465,463.  This  is  a 
decrease  both  i:i  tonnage  and  value  from  the  1919  output.  The  outlook 
for  the  future  is  very  uncertain  on  account  of  the  resumption  of  foreign 
importations. 

The  1920  product  included  refined  potassium  chloride  and  kelp  ash; 
refined  sulpliate  from  one  of  the  cement  mills ;  concentrated  salts  from 
the  brine  of  Searles  Lake ;  also  potash  char  from  molasses  distillery  waste 
and  Steffens  waste  water  in  beet-sugar  manufacture.  An  important  ton- 
nage of  potash  char  was  produced  at  one  plant  operating  on  Hawaiian 
molasses,  but  which  is  not  included  liercin,  not  l)eing  of  California  origin. 
A  small  tonnage  of  crude  natural  salts  from  a  spring  deposit  was  shipped 
from  Siskiyou  County. 

Small  tonnages  of  refined  chloride  were  also  made  from  l)itteriLs  at 
two  of  the  salt  plants  on  San  Francisco  Bay.  No  yieUl  from  kelp  was 
made  in  1919  or  1920  in  Los  Angeles  County.  The  government  kelp  plant 
at  Summerland,  Santa  Barbara  County,  also  recovers  some  iodine  as  a 
by-product. 

The  bulk  of  this  potash  output  was  utilized  in  fertilizer  preparations ; 
and  some  was  sold  for  chemical  purposes. 

Other  uses  for  potash  salts  besides  those  noted  above,  are  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  best  liquid  soap  and  some  higher-grade  cake  soaps,  of  some 
finer  grades  of  glass,  and  in  matches.  The  chemical  requirements  include 
tanning,  dyeing,  metallurgy,  electroplating,  photography,  and  medicine. 

The  large  plant  of  the  American  Trona  Corporation  at  Trona,  on 
Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County,  began  commercial  operation  in 
September,  1916,  and  ships  chloride  of  potash  to  Ea.stern  fertilizer  works. 
Their  product  carries  the  equivalent  of  58%  Ka^-  ^  second  plant  at 
Searles  Lake,  built  by  the  Solvay  Process  Company,  began  commercial 
operation  in  1917.  Their  product,  also  high-grade,  is  KCl.  A  third 
plant  has  been  built  by  the  West  End  Mining  Company,  but  did  not 
ship  any  material  in  1920. 

In  the  cement  mill  of  the  Riverside  Portland  Cement  Company,  the  fine 
dust  from  ball  and  tube  mills  is  collected  by  a  Cottrell  electrical  fume 
l)recipitatoi-,  the  material  showing  a  potash  content.  Sulphate  has  been 
prepared  from  this.  Other  cement  plants,  in  San  Bernardino  and  Santa 
Cruz  counties,  have  also  made  i5ome  recoveiy  of  potash  f  roifl  flue  dust. 


150 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  tabulation  shows  the  distribution  of  the  1920  output  of 
potash  in  California : 


County 

Product 

Eaulva- 
lent  per 
cent  KjO 

Tons 

Value 

San  Bernardino 

Chloride  

52-S8 
50 

3-46 

15.435 

410 

10,453 

$1,082,037 
40,000 

Santa  Barbara 

Chloride  - 

Alameda,  Orange,  Riverside, 
San  Mateo,   Santa  Clara, 
Santa  Cruz,  Siskiyou* 

Chloride,  sulphate,  mo- 
lasses distillery  slops 
char,    Steffens    water 
char,    crude    natural 
salts,  cement  dust 

343,426 

Totals -_    

26,298 

$1,465,46» 

1 

'^Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


The  annual  amounts  and  values  of  these  potash  materials  since 
beginning  in  California  in  1914,  are  shown  by  the  following  table : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1914   .. 

10 

1,076 
17,908 
129,022 
49,381 
28,118 
26,298 

$460 

1915 — —      

19,391 
663,605 

1916   „ 

1917 

4,202,889 

1918   

6,808,976 

1919  .      _.        .          .                    .        - 

2,415,963 

1920   -      - 

1,465,463 

Totals 

251,813 

$15,576,747 

i 
I 


SALT. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  II,  XII  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  24. 

Most  of  the  salt  produced  in  California  is  obtained  by  evaporating  the 
waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  plants  being  located  on  the  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay,  at  Long  Beach,  and  on  San  Diego  Bay.  Additional 
amounts  are  derived  from  lakes  and  lake  beds  in  the  desert  regions  of 
the  state.  The  salt  production  of  San  Bernardino  County  is  mainly 
derived  from  deposits  of  rock  salt  which  are  worked  by  means  of  quarry- 
ing and  steam  shovels.  A  small  amount  of  valuable  medicinal  salts  is 
occasionally  obtained  in  Mono  and  Tehama  counties,  by  evaporation  from 
Mono  Lake  and  mineral  springs  respeotively. 

Formerly  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  table  salt  consumed  in 
California  was  shipped  in  from  Eastern  points;  but,  at  present,  Cali- 
fornia salt  refineries  supply  not  only  our  own  needs  but  export  a  fair 
tonnage  to  other  markets. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


151 


It  may  appear,  at  first  thought,  superfluous  to  enumerate  the  uses  of 
so  well-known  an  item  as  '  common '  salt,  one  whose  history  antedates  the 
written  page ;  but  it  is  employed  for  many  purposes  other  than  culinary. 
A  recent  press  bulletin  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  states  that  there 
was  produced  in  the  United  States  ia  1920  sufficient  salt  to  supply  each 
oue  of  the  106,000,000  inhabitants  with  150  pounds  apiece.  Besides  its 
culinary  uses,  salt  is  employed  in  packing  meat,  curing  fish  and  hides, 
dairying,  refrigerating,  preserving  products  from  deterioration,  pottery 
glazing,  enameling,  pickle  making,  salting  live  stock,  and  in  .some  chem- 
ical industries,  as  in  preparing  soda  ash  and  caustic  soda. 


Salt  deposit  of  Pacific  Rock  Salt  Company,  near  Amboy,   San  Bernardino  County. 
Showing  bed  of  8  feet  of  rock  salt.    Photo  by  W.  B.  Tucker. 

Distribution  of  tlie  1920  production  of  California,  by  counties,  was  as 
follows : 


County  Tons        i  Value 

Alameda    145,36S  ,  $574,837 

Kern  22,G00  j  87,000 

Los  Angele.s 6,502  6,577 

San  Bornardino "202  1.220 

San    Diego 15.300  77,100 

San  Mateo .— 37.409  206,897 

Inyo,  Modoc,  Mono",  Monterey 3,857  i  19,017 

Totals 230.638  |  ?972,&48 

"Medicinal  salts. 

'•Medicinal  salts  and  rock  salt. 

The  above  returns  show  a  slight  decrease  in  tonnage  but  an  increase  in 
value,  as  compared  to  1919.  There  were  12  plants  operating  in  Alameda, 
and  a  total  of  14  plants  in  other  counties  tabulated. 


152 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Amount  and  value  of  annual  production  of  salt  in  California  from 
1887  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation  : 


Tear 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 


Tons 


28,000 

30,800 

21,000 

8,729 

20,094 

23,570 

50,500 

49,131 

53,031 

64,743 

67,851 

98,421 

82,654 

89.338 

126,218 

115,208 

102,895 

95,965 


Value 


$112,000 

92,400 

63,000 

57,085 

90,303 

104,788 

213,000 

140,087 

150,576 

153,244 

157,520 

170,855 

149,588 

204,754 

366,376 

205,876 

211,365 

187,300 


Tear 


1905 
1906 
1907 
1903 
1909 
1910 
1911 


Tons 


77.118 
101,650 

88,063 
121,764 
155,680 
174,920 
173,332 


1912 I  185,721 

1913 !  204,407 

1914  I  223,806 

1915 I  169,028 


1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 


Totals. 


186,148 
227,825 
212,076 
233,994 
230,638 


3,889,321 


Value 


$141,925 
213,228 
310,967 
281,469 
414,708 
395,417 
324,255 
883,370 
462,681 
583,553 
368.737 
455,695 
584.373 
806,328 
896,963 
972,648 


$10,426,434 


SODA. 

Bibliographif:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XV.     Bul- 
letins 24,  67. 

The  pi'oduction  of  the  carbonates  and  sulphate  of  sodium,  in  California 
in  1920,  included  soda  ash  from  plants  at  Owens  Lake,  the  natural  sul- 
phate from  the  Carrizo  Plains,  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  and  a  natural 
sulphate  from  a  deposit  in  San  Bernardino  County.  The  total  tonnage 
was  32,407,  valued  at  $1,164,898,  the  bulk  of  which  came  from  the  three 
plants  in  Inyo  County.  This  is  the  largest  yield  of  any  year  since  the 
beginning  of  this  industry  in  California. 

These  'sodas'  were  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  soap,  and  paper, 
as  well  as  washing  and  baking  soda,  in  sugar  refining,  and  in  various 
chemical  industries.  A  portion  of  the  product  was  exported.  The  export 
demand  was  quite  active  during  1920,  up  to  November,  when  it  fell  off 
sharply. 

The  war  stimulated  the  chemical  industry  in  the  United  States  to 
produce  materials  that  were  formerly  imported  and  to  supply  them  to 
foreign  countries,  as  well  as  to  devise  new  uses  for  chemical  products,  also 
to  replace  more  expensive  by  less  expensive  chemicals.  Sodium  com- 
XJOunds  have  replaced  potassium  compounds,  either  wholly  or  in  part,  in 
glass  and  soap  making,  in  photography,  in  match  making,  in  tanning,  and 
in  the  manufacture  of  cyanide  for  extracting  gold  and  silver  from 
their  oros. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


153 


The  total  output,  showing  amount  and  value  of  these  materials  in 
California  since  the  inception  of  the  statistical  records  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  is  given  in  the  table  which  follows: 


Tear 


Tons 


1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1906 


1,530 

1,900 

3,000 

5,000 

7,000 

10,000 

1,000 

8,000 

7,000 

18,000 

12,000 

15,000 

12,000 

9,600 


Value 


Tear 


1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 


$20,000 

47,500 

65,000 
110,000 
154,000 
250,000  I  1914 

50,000  191.: 
400,000 

50,000 

27,000 


1&16 
1917 
1918 


18,000  1919 
22.5C0  1920 
18,000  I 

14,400 


Totals 


Tons 

Value 

7,712 

$11,593 

8,125 

11,862 

9,023 

52,887 

7,200 

37,094 

1,861 

24,936 

6,522 

115,396 

5,799 

83,4^5 

10,593 

264,825 

24,505 

928,578 

20,447 

855,423 

21,294 

721,958 

32.407 

1,164,898 

266,518 

$5,519,335 

154  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  SEVEN. 
MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES. 

Introductory. 

The  State  of  California  includes  a  total  area  of  158,360  square  miles, 
of  which  155,980  square  miles  are  of  land.  The  maximum  width  is  235 
miles,  the  minimum,  148  miles;  and  the  length  from  the  northwest 
corner  to  the  southeast  corner  is  775  miles.  The  state  is  divided  into 
fifty-eight  counties.  Some  mineral  of  commercial  value  exists  in  every 
county,  and  during  1920  some  active  production  was  reported  to  the  State 
Mining  Bureau  from  all  of  the  fifty-eight.  In  the  mountainous  por- 
tions of  the  state  are  largely  found  the  vein-forming  minerals.  In  the 
desert  regions  of  southeastern  California  ancient  lake  beds  afford  sup- 
plies of  saline  deposits.  Underlying  the  interior  valleys  of  the  central 
and  southern  portion  of  the  state  are  the  large  crude  oil  reservoirs. 
Building  stones  and  mineral  earths  of  all  descriptions  are  widely  dis-  ■ 
tributed  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  state.  The  1920 
census  figures  show  a  total  population  for  California  of  3,437,709. 

Of  the  first  ten  counties  in  point  of  total  output  for  1920,  the  first 
five  (Kern,  Orange,  Los  Angeles,  Fresno,  Santa  Barbara)  owe  their  J 
position  mainly  to  petroleum,  as  does  also  Ventura  (seventh).  Kern,  « 
due  to  its  oil,  leads  all  the  others  by  over  two  and  one-half  times  the 
total  of  Orange,  its  nearest  competitor.  San  Bernardino  owes  its  place 
to  cement,  silver  and  potash ;  Riverside,  to  gold ;  Inyo,  mainly  to  borax, 
soda,  lead,  and  silver ;  and  Yuba  mainly  to  gold.  Twenty-two  counties 
have  each  a  total  in  excess  of  a  million  dollars,  for  1920.  Cement  is 
an  important  item  in  six  of  these  counties. 

In  point  of  variety  and  diversity,  San  Bernardino  County  led  all 
the  others  in  1920  with  a  total  of  22  different  mineral  products  on  its 
commercial  list,  followed  by  Los  Angeles  with  19,  Kern  with  16,  and 
Inyo,  Riverside,  San  Diego,  and  Shasta  with  15  each. 

The  counties  with  their  mineral  resources,  production  for  1920,  etc., 
are  considered  in  detail  in  this  chapter. 


I 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


155 


Value  of  California   Mineral    Production   by  Counties,  for  1920,  Arranged   in  the 
Order  of  Their  Importance. 


Oounty 


Value 


County 


Value 


1.  Kern   $89,121,581 

2.  Orange    '  34,108,136 

3.  Los  Angeles '  26,975,163 

4.  Fresno '  23,819,351 

5.  Santa  Barbara 10,538,611 

6.  San  Bernardino  6,541,348 

7.  Ventura    5,229,175 

8.  Riverside 5,128.208 

9.  Inyo   3,889,400 

10.  Yuba 3,573,649 

11.  Santa  Cruz  '  3,081.138 

12.  Nevada   '  2,95.5,006 

13.  Solano 2.930,614 

14.  Plumas   '  2,082,662 

15.  Contra  Costa 2,082,053 

16.  Sacramento  2.066,154 

17.  Amador    2,010,200 

18.  Alameda 1,947.880 

19.  Calaveras  1,880,050 

20.  San  Benito 1,483,024 

21.  Shasta  1,108,538 

22.  Santa  Clara  I  1,038,692 

23.  San  Diego  1  794,229 

24.  Butte  1  641,562 

25.  Placer  I  612,813 

26.  Tulare  1  593,296 

27.  Trinity  '  562,105 

28.  Tuolumne  513,914 

29.  San  Joaquin  471,102 

30.  Sierra    I  446,861 


San  Luis  Obispo. 

Stanislaus   

Marin 

San  Mateo  

Sonoma 

Mariposa 

Napa 

Siskiyou 

Mono   

El  Dorado 

Imperial 

Humboldt  

Glenn  

Monterey 

Madera  

San  Francisco  ... 

Lake  

Colusa 

Kings  

Tehama    

Mendocino    _. 

Merced    

Lassen    

Del  Norte  

Yolo   

Modoc   

Alpine  

Sutter  


Total $242,099,667 


405.604 

385,017 

335,745 

293,103 

287,245 

271,031 

230,141 

229,115 

188,258 

186,432 

169,882 

159,796 

134,707 

126,449 

122,925 

80,35:3 

63,.553 

57.488 

29.870 

26,400 

26,110 

24.800 

12.313 

11,781 

9,472 

4,668 

840 

54 


ALAMEDA. 
Area :  843  square  miles. 
Population:  344,177  (1920  cen.sus). 

Alameda  County,  while  in  no  sense  one  of  the  ''mining  counties," 
come.s  eighteenth  on  the  list  with  a  value  of  mineral  products  for  1920 
of  $1,947,880,  an  increase  from  the  1919  total,  which  was  $1,304,685. 
The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  brick,  chromite, 
clay,  coal,  limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  pyrite,  salt,  soap.stoue,  and 
miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  wa.s  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile $6&4.918 

Clay  (pottery)  3,001  tons  3,762 

Pyrites    10,602  tons  55,251 

Salt 145,368  tons  574,837 

Stone,  miscellaneous  620,758 

Other  minerals* 28,354 

Total  value  $1,947,880 

•Includes  magnesium  salts,  manganese,  mineral  paint,  and  potash. 


156  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ALPINE. 

Area :  776  square  miles. 
Population:  24.3  (1920  census). 

Alpine  lias  in  the  past  shown  a  small  production  of  gold  and  silver, 
but  dropped  out  of  the  list  of  producing  counties  in  1914-1918.  For 
1920,  a  total  value  of  $840  was  reported,  distributed  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $680 

Other  minerals*  160 

Total  value $840 

•Includes  gold  and  silver. 

This  county  lies  just  south  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  high  Sierra  Nevada 
range  of  mountains.  Transportation  is  by  wagon  or  mule  back,  and 
facilities  in  general  are  lacking  to  promote  development  work  of  any 
kind. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are  varied  and  the  country  has 
not  yet  been  thoroughly  prospected.  Occurrences  of  barium,  copper, 
gold,  gypsum,  lead,  limestone,  pyrite,  rose  (juartz,  silver,  tourmaline, 
and  zinc  have  been  noted  here. 


AMADOR. 

Area:  601  square  miles. 
Population:  7,793  (1920  census). 

The  value  of  Amador  County's  mineral  production  decreased  from 
$3,173,588  in  1919  to  $2,010,200,  placing  it  number  seventeen  on  the 
list  of  counties  in  the  state  as  regards  total  value  of  mineral  substances 
marketed.     The  drop  was  due  to  a  decrease  in  gold  output. 

Although  having  an  output  consisting  of  10  different  minerals,  the 
leading  product,  gold,  makes  up  approximately  89%  of  the  entire  total. 
Amador  at  one  time  led  the  state  in  gold  production,  but  was  exceeded 
in  1920  by  Yuba  and  Nevada  counties. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  brick,  chromite, 
clay,  coal,  copper,  gold,  lime,  quartz  crystals,  glass-sand,  sandstone, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Clay  (pottery)  25,719  tons  $61,808 

Gold    1,788,793 

Silver   19,780 

Silica    : 6,116  tons  36,432 

Stone -  680 

Other  minerals* - -  102,707 

Total  value  $2,010,200 

♦Includes  brick,  coal,  mineral  paint,  plat.inum,  and  soapstone. 


i 


STATISTICS    OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  157 

BUTTE. 


Area :  1,722  square  miles. 
Population:  30,030  (1920  census). 
Location  :  North-central  portion  of  state. 


Butte,  twenty-fourth  county  in  California  in  reg-ard  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  output,  reported  a  commercial  production  of  seven  mineral 
substances,  having  a  total  value  of  $641,562  as  compared  with  $481,537. 
As  will  be  noted  in  the  following  tabulation,  gold  is  by  far  the  most 
important  item.  Butte  stands  seven  among  the  gold-producing  counties 
of  the  state.  Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are  a.sbestos, 
barytes,  chromite,  gems,  gold,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water,  plati- 
num minerals,  silver  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  value  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Gems   ^00 

Gold  467,eOO 

Mineral  water 6,400  gals.  5,200 

Platinum    42  fine  oz.  4,714 

Silver   2,253 

other  minerals* 161,095 

Total  value  $(>41,562 

•Includes  natural  gas  anil  iiii;^c"llanpous  sitone. 


CALAVERAS. 
Area  :  1,027  square  miles. 
Population:  6,183  (1920  census). 
Location:  East-central  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  district. 

Calaveras  County  reported  production  of  8  different  minerals,  valued 
at  $1,880,050  during  the  year  1920,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output  at 
$1,978,558.  Gold,  copper,  and  silver  are  the  chief  mineral  substances 
produced.  In  regard  to  total  value  of  mineral  output  Calaveras  stands 
nineteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state ;  it  is  fifth  in  gold,  second  in 
copper,  eightli  in  silver,  liaving  been  passed  by  Plumas  in  copper  and 
silver  output  for  1918-1920,  and  by  Kern  in  silver,  1919-1920.  The 
decrease,  as  compared  with  1919,  is  due  to  gold  and  copper. 

The  principal  mineral  resources  developed  and  undeveloped  are: 
Asbestos,  cliromite,  clay,  copper,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  platinum  minerals,  pyrite,  quartz  crystals, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


158  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA, 

Commercial  output  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Copper  2,112,186  $388,642 

Gold  1,439,745 

Mineral  water 5,120  gals.  512 

Platinum    20  fine  oz.  2,002 

Silver   16,701 

Stone,  miscellaneous  2,400 

Other  minerals* . 30,048 

Total  value . $1,880,050 

•Includes  gem  material  and  lead. 


COLUSA. 

Area :  1,140  square  miles. 
Population:  9,920  (1920  census). 
Location :  Sacramento  Valley. 

Colusa  County  lies  largely  in  the  basin  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
Its  western  border,  however,  rises  into  the  foothills  of  the  Coast  Range 
of  mountains,  and  it 3  mineral  resources — largely  undeveloped — include 
coal,  chromite,  copper,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water,  pyrite, 
quicksilver,  sandstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  sulphur,  and  in  some  places 
traces  of  gold  and  silver. 

The  value  of  the  1920  production  was  $57,488,  an  increase  over  the 
1919  figures  of  $7,300,  giving  it  forty-eighth  place. 


CONTRA  COSTA. 

Area :  714  square  miles. 
Population:  53,889  (1920  census). 

Contra  Costa,  like  Alameda  County,  lies  on  the  eastern  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay,  and  is  not  commonly  considered  among  the  mineral- 
producing  counties  of  the  state.  It  stands  fifteenth  on  the  list  in  this 
respect,  however,  with  an  output  valued  at  $2,082,053  for  the  calendar 
year  1920.  Various  structural  materials  make  up  the  chief  items, 
including  brick,  cement,  limestone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Among 
the  others  are  asbestos,  clay,  coal,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water, 
and  soapstone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows :  i 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Brick 13,608  M.  $312,398 

Clay  (pottery)  1,743  tons  3,319 

Stone,  miscellaneous 432,654 

Other  minerals*  1,333,682 

Total  value  $2,082,053 

•Includes  cement  and  mineral  water. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  159 

DEL  NORTE. 

Area :  1,024  square  miles. 

Population:  2,759  (1920  census). 

Location :  Extreme  northwest  corner  of  state. 

Transportation  :  Wagon  and  mule  back ;  steamer  from  Crescent  City. 

Del  Norte  rivals  Alpine  Count}'  in  regard  to  inaccessibility.  Like 
the  latter  county  also,  given  transportation  and  kindred  facilities,  this 
portion  of  the  state  presents  a  wide  field  for  development  along  mining 
lines  especially.  Its  chief  mineral  resources,  largely  untouched,  are 
chromite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron,  platinum  minerals,  silver,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone.  The  1920  output  was  an  increase  over  the  figure  of 
$7,240  in  1919. 

Commercial  production  for  1920,  giving  it  fifty-fourth  place,  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $9,000 

Other  minerals* 2,781 

Total  value $11,781 

•Includes  chromite  and  copper. 


EL  DORADO. 

Area:  1,753  square  miles. 
Population:  6,426  (1920  census). 

Location :  East-central  portion  of  the  state,  northernmost  of  the 
Mother  Lode  counties. 

El  Dorado  County,  which  contains  the  locality  where  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia was  first  heralded  to  the  world,  comes  fortieth  on  the  list  of 
counties  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  total  mineral  production 
during  the  year  1920.  In  addition  to  the  segregated  figures  here  given, 
a  large  tonnage  of  limestone  is  annually  shipped  from  El  Dorado  for  use 
in  cement  manufacture,  and  whose  value  Is  included  in  the  state  total 
for  cement.  The  increase  over  the  1919  figure  of  $166,152  was  due 
mainly  to  limestone. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section,  many  of  them  undeveloped, 
include  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron, 
molybdenum,  limestone,  quartz  crystals,  quicksilver,  glass-sand,  slate, 
soapstone,  silver  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


160  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Gold    $13,379 

Limestone   41,109  tons  139,873 

Silver    155 

Soapstone*  J      2,640  tons  18,200 

Stone,  miscellaneous  5,500 

Other  minerals  9,325 


Total  value  $186,432 


FRESNO. 

Area:  5,950  square  miles. 
Population:  128,779  (1920  census). 
Location :  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Fresno  County,  fourth  in  importance  as  a  mineral  producer  among 
the  counties  of  California,  reported  an  output  for  1920  of  ten  mineral 
substances,  with  a  total  value  of  $23,819,351,  an  increase  over  the 
reported  1919  production,  which  was  worth  $21,664,465.  The  great 
bulk  of  the  above  is  derived  from  the  petroleum  production  of  the 
Coalinga  field. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  many,  and,  aside  from  crude 
oil,  are  in  the  main  not  yet  fully  developed.  They  include  asbestos, 
barytes,  brick,  chromite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  graphite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                  Amount  Value 

Brick  12,517  M.  $196,756 

Gold 7,793 

Granite   49.600 

Magnesite    906  tons  8,725 

Natural  gas  3,721,313  M.  cu.  ft.  201,865 

Petroleum   15,375,454  bbl.  22,801,798 

Silver   227 

Stone,  miscellaneous  535,587 

Other  minerals 17,000 

Total  value  $23,819,351 


GLENN. 
Area:  1,259  square  miles. 
Population:  11,853  (1920  census). 
Location:  West  side  of  Sacramento  Valley. 

Glenn   County,  standing  forty-third,   owes  its  position  among  the  ^ 
mineral-producing  counties  of  the  state  mainly  to  the  presence  of  large 
deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  which  are  annually  worked,  the  product 
being  used  for  railroad  ballast,  etc.     In  1917  and  1918,  chromite  was 


I 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  161 

also  an  important  item.  In  the  foothills  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county,  deposits  of  ehromite,  copper,  manganese,  sandstone,  and  soap- 
stone  have  been  found. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $134,707 


HUMBOLDT. 

Area:  3,634  square  miles. 
Population:  37,857  (1920  census). 

Location :  Northwestern    portion    of   state,    bordering   on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Humboldt  County  is  almost  entirely  mountainous,  transportation 
within  its  limits  being  very  largely  by  wagon  road  and  trail,  and  until 
recent  years  was  reached  from  the  outside  world  by  steamer  only.  The 
county  is  rich  in  mineral  resources,  among  which  are  brick,  ehromite, 
coal,  clay,  copper,  gold,  iron,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  petroleum, 
platinum,  silver  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Ten  mineral  substances,  as  shown  by  the  table  given  below,  having  a 
total  value  of  $159,796,  were  produced  in  1920,  as  compared  with  the 
1919  output,  w^orth  $52,011,  the  increase  being  due  to  manganese.  Hum- 
boldt ranks  forty-second  among  the  counties  of  the  state  for  the  year. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Gold  $2,538 

Manganese    859  tons  18,513 

Silver   19 

Stone,  miscellaneous  133,290 

Other  minerals* 5,436 

Total  value  $159,796 

•Includes  brick,  clay,  granite,  mineral  water,  natural  gas  and  volcanic  ash. 


IMPERIAL. 

Area  :  4,089  square  miles. 

Population:  43,383  (1920  cen.sus). 

Location  :  Extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  state. 

During  1920  Imperial  County  produced  five  mineral  substances  having 
a  total  value  of  $169,882,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output,  worth 
$140,443.  Its  rank  is  forty-first.  This  county  contains  deposits  of  gold, 
gypsum,  lead,  marble,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  strontium,  largely 
undeveloped. 

11—12865 


162  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Pumice  624  tons  $16,500 

Silver   2,183 

Stone,  miscellaneous  127,412 

Other  minerals 23,787 


Total  value  $169,882 


INYO. 

Area:  10,019  square  miles. 
Population:  7,031  (1920  census). 

Location :  Lies  on  eastern  border  of  state,  north  of  San  Bernardino  ^ 
County.  \ 

Inyo,  the  second  largest  county  in  the  state,  and  containing  less  than 
one  inhabitant  per  square  mile,  is  extremely  interesting  from  a  mineral- 
ogical  point  of  vieAv.  It  is  noted  because  of  the  fact  that  within  its 
borders  are  located  both  the  highest  point,  Mount  Whitney  (elevation 
14,502  feet),  and  the  lowest  point,  Death  Valley  (elevation  290  feet 
below  sea  level),  in  the  United  States.  In  the  higher  mountainous 
sections  are  found  many  vein-forming  minerals,  and  in  the  lake  beds 
of  Death  Valley  saline  deposits  exist. 

Inyo's  mineral  production  during  the  year  1920  reached  a  value  of 
$3,889,400,  standing  ninth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  this  respect. 
The  1919  value  was  $2,692,546,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  borax, 
lead,  and  silver.  Its  mineral  resources  include  antimony,  asbestos, 
barytes,  borax,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  lead,  marble,  soda,  sulphur, 
talc,  tungsten,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                Amount  Value 

Copper  144,286  lbs.  $26,549 

Gold  55,634 

Lead    4,612,338  lbs.  368,987 

Limestone   15,240  tons  31,080 

Silver   258.929 

Soda    23,132  tons  933,023 

Stone,  miscellaneous  I.ISO 

Other  minerals* 2,214,008 

Total  value  $3,889,400 

*Inclu<les  borax,  dolomite,  fuller's  earth,  marble,  volcanic  ash,  salt,  talc,  and  zinc. 


I 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  163 

KERN. 

Area:  8,003  square  miles. 
Population:  54,843  (1920  census). 
Location  :  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Kern  County,  because  of  its  immensely  productive  oil  fields,  stands 
pre-eminent  among  all  counties  of  California  in  the  value  of  its  mineral 
output,  the  exact  figures  for  1920  being  $89,121,581.  This  is  larger 
by  more  than  fifty  million  dollars  than  the  succeeding  county  on  the  list. 
This  figure  also  is  nearly  six  and  one-half  times  the  value  of  the  total 
gold  output  of  the  entire  state  for  1920.  The  1919  mineral  output  for 
Kern  County  was  worth  $66,625,352.  The  increase  was  due  to  the 
(Milianced  prices  for  crude  oil  of  all  grades. 

Among  the  mineral  resources,  developed  and  undeveloped,  of  this 
section  are:  Antimony,  asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay,  copper,  fuller's 
earth,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  maguesite,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  potash,  salt,  silver,  soapstoue, 
soda,  sulphur  and  tungsten. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Brick  3,850  M.  $56,550 

Copper  206  lbs.  38 

Gold  61,187 

Lime    76.395  bbls.  106,733 

Natural  gas  ^4,912,865  M.  cu.  ft.  1,810,147 

Petroleum  50,660,4:38  bbls.  86,831.991 

Salt    22,000  tons  87.000 

Silver   8,385 

Silica    3,060  tons  20,100 

Stone,  miscellaneous  31,180 

Other  minerals* 108,270 

Total  value  $89,121,581 

•Includes  cement,  gems,  lead,  and  quicksilver. 


KINGS. 
Area :  1,159  square  miles. 
Population:  22,031  (1920  census). 
Location  :  South-central  portion  of  the  state. 

!      Little  development  has  taken  place  in  Kings  County  along  mineral 

:  lines  to  date.  Deposits  of  fuller's  earth,  gypsum,  mineral  paint,  natural 
gas,  and  quicksilver,  of  undetermined  extent,  have  been  found  in  the 
county.     Some  drilling  for  oil  has  been  under  way,  but  tliere  has,  as 

I  yet,  been  no  commercial  output  recorded.     The  decrease  in  1920  was 

'  due  to  quicksilver. 


164  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

Ill  forty-niiitli  plaee,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Natural  gas  2,765  M.  cu.  ft.  $1,250 

Quicksilver  436  flasks  28,620 

Total  value $29,870 


LAKE. 

Area:  1,278  square  miles. 
Population:  5,542  (1920  census). 

Location:  About  fifty  miles  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the 
same  distance  inland  from  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

On  account  of  its  topography  and  natural  beauties.  Lake  County  is 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Switzerland  of  America.  The  mineral 
resources  which  exist  here  are  many  and  varied,  actual  production 
being  comparatively  small,  as  shown  by  the  table  below,  and  composed 
mainly  of  quicksilver,  and  mineral  water.  Some  of  the  leading  minerals 
Pound  in  this  section,  in  part  as  yet  undeveloped,  are  borax,  chromite, 
clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  silver, 
and  sulphur. 

In  forty-seventh  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance             '                                                                               Amount  Value 

Chromite    84  tons  $1,560 

Manganese 247  tons  7,816 

Mineral  water 43,693  gals.  16,413 

Quicksilver  385  flasks  24,314 

Stone,  miscellaneous  13,200 

Other  minerals 250 

Total  value $63,553 


LASSEN. 
Area :  4,531  square  miles. 
Population:  8,507  (1920  census). 
Location.:  Northeast  portion  of  state. 

Lassen  County  is  one  of  the  little  explored  sections  of  California. 
Since  about  1912  a  railroad  traversing  the  county  north  and  south  has 
been  in  operation,  thus  affording  opportunity  for  development  along 
mineral  and  other  lines. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  copper,  gems,  gypsum, 
gold,  silver,  and  sulphur.  In  the  past,  some  gold  has  been  produced, 
but  not  during  the  last  few  years,  though  there  is  prospect  of  resumption 
in  1921. 


STATISTICS  OF  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  165 

In  fifty-third  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $7,313 

Other  minerals 5,000 

Total  value  $12,313 


LOS  ANGELES. 

Area  :  4,067  square  miles. 

Population:  936,438  (1920  census). 

Location :  One  of  the  southwestern  coast  counties. 

Mineral  production  in  Los  Angeles  County  for  the  year  1920  amounted 
in  value  to  $26,975,163  as  compared  Avith  the  1919  output,  worth 
$23,606,381.  This  county  ranked  third  in  the  state  as  a  mineral 
producer  in  1920,  having  passed  Fresno  in  1919  which  was  previously 
fourth.  The  advance  was  due  to  the  large  increase  in  the  petroleum 
output  and  valuation. 

Its  output  of  brick  and  tile  was  over  two  million  dollars,  and  that  of 
petroleum  amounted  to  over  twenty  million  dollars.  Among  the  min- 
eral resources  may  be  noted  asphalt,  barytes,  borax,  brick,  clay,  fuller's 
earth,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  limestone,  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  salt,  glass-sand,  sandstone, 
serpentine,  silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Some  potash 
has  been  obtained  from  kelp. 

Commercial  production  for  1920,  consisting  of  19  substances,  was  a.s 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Brick  ]27,8.>4  M.  $2,333,941 

Building  tile  27,9.54  tons  308,476 

Clay  18,684  tons  91,763 

Mineral  water   161,466  gals.  10,371 

Natural  gas  6,22.5,8:3o  M.  cu.  ft.  556,465 

Petroleum   14,026.536  bbls.  21,488,65:3 

Salt    6,502  tons  6,577 

Stone,  miscellaneous  1,704,951 

Other  minerals* 473,966 

Total  value $26,975,163 

•Includes  borax,  copper,  gold,  graphite,  infusorial  earth,  lead,  magnesium  salts,  and  silver. 


MADERA. 
Area:  2,112  square  miles. 
Population:  12,203  (1920  census). 
Location  :  East-central  portion  of  state. 

Madera  County  produced  four  mineral  substances  during  the  year 
1920,  having  a  total  value  of  $122,925,  as  compared  with  the  1919 


166  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

output,  worth  $117,888.  The  increase  is  due  mainly  to  granite.  This 
county  contains  deposits  of  copper,  gold,  iron,  lead,  molybdenum,  pumice, 
silver,  and  building  stone. 

In  forty-fifth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Copper  89,846  lbs.  $16,532 

Gold  6,382 

Granite   98,523 

Silver   1,488 

Total  value $122,925 


MARIN. 

Area:  529  square  miles. 

Population:  27,342  (1920  census). 

Location :  Adjoins  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

Mineral  production  in  Marin  County  during  the  year  1920  reached 
a  value  of  $335,745,  as  compared  to  the  1919  output,  worth  $228,974, 
the  increase  being  due  to  crushed  rock,  and  brick.  This  county  is  not 
especially  prolific  in  minerals,  although  among  its  resources  along  these 
lines  are  brick,  gems,  manganese,  mineral  water,  soapstone,  and  miseel 
laneous  stone. 

In  thirty-third  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was : 


\ 


Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $208,302 

Other  minerals* 127,443 

Total  value $335,745 

*Iucludes  brick  and  mineral  water. 


MARIPOSA. 

Area :  1,463  square  miles. 
Population:  2,775  (1920  census). 

Location:  Most   southerly   of   the   Mother   Lode   counties.     East-j 
central  portion  of  state. 

Mariposa  County  is  one  of  the  distinctly  'mining'  counties  of  the 
state,  although  it  stands  but  thirty-sixth  on  the  list  of  counties  in  regarc 
to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1920,  with  a  total  of  $271,031 
compared  with  the  1919  figure  of  $262,566. 

Its  mineral  resources  are  varied;  among  the  more  important  iter 
being  barytes,  copper,  gems,  gold,  lead,  marble,  silver,  slate,  soapstonej 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  Yosemite  Valley  is  in  Mariposa  County. 


STATISTICS   OF  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  167 

Couimercial  production  of  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                          Amount  Value 

Gold $261,830 

Silver  4.705 

Stone,  miscellaneous  __ 400 

Other  minerals* 4,096 


Total  value $271,031 

•Includes  barytes,  copper,  and  lead. 


MENDOCINO. 

Area :  3,453  square  miles. 
ropulation:  24,116  (1920  census). 

Location :  Joins  Humboldt  County  on  the  south  and  bounded  by 
the  Pacific  Ocean  on  the  west. 

Mendocino's  annual  mineral  production  has  usually  been  small,  the 
1920  output  being  valued  at  $26,110,  ranking  it  fifty-first  among  the 
counties.     That  of  1919  was  worth  $14,214. 

Deposits  of,  in  part  undetermined  value  of  asbestos,  chromite,  coal, 
copper,  graphite,  magnesite,  and  mineral  water  have  been  found,  as  well 
as  traces  of  gold  and  silver. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $7,500 

Other  minerals*  18,610 

Total  value  $26,110 

•Includes  cliioniite,  manganese,  natural  gas,  and  platinum. 


MERCED. 

Area :  1,995  square  miles. 

Population:  24,579  (1920  census). 

Location  :  About  the  geographical  center  of  the  state. 

Merced  County  as  a  Avhole  lies  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  and  it 
figures  as  one  of  the  lesser  mineral  producing  counties  of  the  state. 
Tlie  1920  mineral  output  was  valued  at  $24,800.  Gold,  platinum,  and 
silver  were  formerly  obtained  by  dredging,  but  ceased  in  this  county  in 
1918.  Undeveloped  deposits  of  antimony,  magnesite,  quicksilver,  and 
limestone  have  been  noted  in  this  count}^  in  addition  to  the  foregoing. 

In  fifty-second  place,  commercial  production  during  1920  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $24,800 


168  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA, 

MODOC. 
Area :  3,823  square  miles. 
Popidation:  5,425  (1920  census). 
Location :  The  extreme  northwest  corner  of  the  state. 

Modoc  County,  like  Lassen,  has  only  in  recent  years  had  the  benefit 
of  communication  Math  the  outside  world  by  rail.  Among  its  known 
mineral  resources  are  :  Clay,  coal,  gold,  iron,  quicksilver,  salt,  and  silver. 

In  fifty-sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $700 

Other  minerals 3,9<38 

Total  value  $4,668 

♦Includes  gem  material,  gold,  salt,   and  silver. 


MONO. 

Area :  3,030  square  miles. 

Population:  960  (1920  census). 

Location:  Is  bordered  by  the  State  of  Nevada  on  the  east  and  is 

about  in  the  central  portion  of  the  state  measured  on  a  north 

and  south  line. 

Gold  mining  has  been  carried  on  in  portions  of  Mono  County  for 
many  years,  although  taken  as  a  whole  it  lies  in  a  rather  inaccessible 
country  and  has  been  but  superficially  explored.  It  is  in  the  continu- 
ation of  the  highly  mineralized  belt  Avhich  was  noted  in  Inyo  County' 
and  contains  among  other  mineral  resources  barytes,  cla,y,  copper,  gold, 
limestone,  molybdenum,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  travertine. 

In  tliirty-ninth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows ; 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Copper 3,215  lbs.  $592 

Gold  144,746 

Lead    85,014  lbs.  6,801 

Silver   34,369 

Stone,  miscellaneous  1,(X10 

Other  minerals 750 

Total  value  $188,258 


MONTEREY. 

Area :  3,330  square  miles. 

Population:  27,980  (1920  census). 

Location:  West-central  portion  of  state,  bordering  on  Pacific  Ocean. 

Monterey  County  produced  ten  mineral  substances  during  the  j'ear 
1920,  having  a  total  value  of  $126,449,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  169 

worth  $148,504.  Its  mineral  rasources  include  brick,  clay,  copper,  coal, 
dolomite,  feldspar,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  silver,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth, 
limestone,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  glass-sand,  sandstone, 
silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  forty-fourth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Dolomite  5,755  tons  $26,238 

Mineral  water 200  gals.  20 

Stone,  miscellaneoust  84,056 

Other  minerals*  16,135 

Total  value  $126,449 

•Includes  barytcs,  coal,  feldspar,  diatomaceous  earth,  salt,  silica,  and  sand  for  glass  making, 
tincludes  sand  for  moulding,  cores,  filters,  and  roofing. 


NAPA. 

Area:  783  square  miles. 
Population:  20,678  (1920  census). 

Location:  Directly  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay — one  of  the  'bay 
counties. ' 

Napa,  because  of  its  production  of  structural  and  industrial  mate- 
rials and  quicksilver,  stands  thirty-seventh  on  the  list  of  mineral- 
producing  counties  in  California.  Its  mineral  resources  include 
chromite,  copper,  cement,  gypsum,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  quick- 
silver, sandstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  1920,  the  value  of  the  output  decreased  to  $230,141  from  the 
1919  figure  of  $275,303,  due  mainly  to  quicksilver. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substancj                                                                                             Amount  Value 

Mineral   water   80,431  gals.  $38,621 

Quicksilver  266  flasks  18,588 

Stone,  miscellaneous  74,550 

Other  minerals* 98,382 

Total  value  $230,141 

•Includes  magnesite  and  volcanic  ash. 


NEVADA. 
Area  :  974  square  miles. 
Population:  10,860  (1920  census). 
Location:  North  of  Lake  Tahoe,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  state. 

Nevada,  one  of  the  mountain  counties  of  California,  has  in  recent 
years,  alternated  with  Amador  in  the  gold  lead,  but  both  were  passed 
l)y  Yuba  in  1918-1920.     Nevada  County  stands  twelfth  on  the  list  in 


170  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

regard  to  the  value  of  its  total  mineral  output,  with  a  figure  of  $2,955,- 
006,  as  compared  with  the  1919  production  worth  $3,064,053.  The 
decrease  is  due  mainly  to  gold. 

While  this  county  actually  produces  mainly  gold  and  silver,  its 
resources  cover  a  wide  scope,  including  antimony,  asbestos,  barytes, 
bismuth,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  iron,  lead,  mineral  paint,  pyrite, 
soapstone,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Gold $2,872,471 

Silver   58.476 

Stone,  miscellaneous  6,528 

Other  minerals* 17,531 

Total  value  $2,955,006 

*Includes  asbestos,  barytes,  copper,  granite,  and  lead. 


ORANGE. 

Area:  795  square  miles. 

Population:  61,375  (1920  census). 

Location :  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  bordering  Pacific  Ocean. 

Orange  County  is  one  of  the  many  in  California  which  on  casual 
inspection  appears  to  be  anything  but  a  mineral-producing  section.  It 
stands,  however,  as  the  second  countj^  in  the  state  in  regard  to  the  total 
value  of  mineral  output  for  1920,  its  highly  productive  oil  fields  making 
such  a  condition  possible. 

This  count}',  in  company  with  most  of  the  other  oil  counties,  shows  a 
gain  in  1920,  Avith  a  total  value  of  mineral  products  of  $34,108,136  from 
the  1919  output,  worth  $27,850,693.  It  passed  Shasta  County  in  1917, 
which  previously  for  a  number  of  years  had  exceeded  all  other  counties 
in  California,  except  Kern. 

Aside  from  the  substances  actually  produced  and  noted  in  the  table 
below,  coal,  gypsum,  iron,  infusorial  earth,  sandstone,  and  tourmaline 
have  been  found  in  Orange  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                  Amount  Value 

Copper  455  lbs.  $ 

Gold  145 

Lead    15,932  lbs.  1,275 

Natural  gas  10,520,483  M.  cu.  ft.  862,446 

Petroleum   15,462,741  bbls.  33,059,340 

Silver   7,263 

Stone,  miscellaneous  80,988 

Other  minerals* 96,595 

Total  value  $^4,108,186 

•Includes  brick,  clay,  and  potash. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  171 

PLACER. 
Area :  1,395  square  miles. 

Popvlation:  18,584  (1920  census). 

Location :  Eastern  border  of  state  directly  west  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

While  standing  only  twenty-fifth  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing 
counties,  Placer  contains  a  Avide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  some 
of  which  have  not  been  commercially  exploited.  Its  leading  products 
are  gold,  chromite,  granite,  copper,  and  clay.  Other  mineral  resources 
are :  Asbestos,  brick,  coal,  gems,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite,  manga- 
nese, marble,  quartz  crystals,  glass-sand,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Chromite   390  tons  $7,985 

Brick  and  tile 149,924 

Clav  65,560  tons  76,500 

Gold  151,088 

Granite    212,625 

Silver   . 2,178 

Stone,  miscellaneous  6,688 

Other  minerals 5,825 

Total  value $612,813 


PLUMAS. 

Area  :  2,594  square  miles. 

Population:  5,681  (1920  census). 

Location :  Northeastern  border  of  state,  south  of  Lassen  County. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  area  of  Plumas  County  lies  in  the  high 
mountains,  and  deposits  of  the  metals,  especially  gold  and  copper,  are 
found  there.  Lack  of  transportation  and  other  facilities  has  retarded 
its  growth,  but  its  future  is  decidedly  promising.  Mineral  production 
for  1920  was  valued  at  $2,082,662,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output, 
worth  $2,158,196,  the  decrease  being  due  mainly  to  copper,  which 
placed  the  county  fourteenth  in  rank.  In  1919-1920  Plumas  passed 
Shasta  in  the  copper  lead,  owing  to  the  Shasta  smelters  being  closed 
down. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are:  Chromite,  copper,  gold,  granite, 
iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  molybdenum,  platinum,  silver,  and 
zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Copper  9,583,834  lbs.  $1,763,425 

Gold  102,097 

Silver   152,373 

Stone,  miscellaneous  62,109 

Other  minerals* 2,658 

Total  value  $2,082,662 

•Includes  granite,  lead,  lime,  and  platinum. 


172  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

RIVERSIDE. 
Area  :  7,240  square  miles. 
Population:  60,297  (1920  census). 
Location:  Southern  portion  of  state. 

Riverside  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  size  and  the  eighth  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1920.  Within  its  borders 
are  included  mountain,  desert,  and  agricultural  land.  Its  mineral 
resources  include  metals,  structural  and  industrial  materials,  and 
salines,  some  of  the  more  important  being  borax,  brick,  cement,  clay, 
coal,  copper,  feldspar,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  man- 
ganese, magnesite,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  salt,  glass- 
sand,  soapstone,  silver,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  tin.  In  point  of  variety 
Riverside  County  showed  fifteen  different  minerals  commercially 
produced  in  1920. 

The  increase  in  1920  over  the  1919  value  of  $2,576,978  is  due  mainly 
to  cement. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile $489,209 

Clay  (pottery)  76,317  tons  126,313 

Feldspar    1,094  tons  6,168 

Granite   26,408 

Silica    3,195  tons  12,581 

Stone,  miscellaneous  296,499 

Other  minerals* 4,171,030 

Total  value $5,128,208 

*Inrluiles  ct'iij?nt,  coal,  gems,  gy]).'suni,  niincial  wal  r,  and  potash. 


SACRAMENTO. 

Area :  983  square  miles. 
Population:  90,978  (1920  census). 
Location :  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Sacramento  stands  sixteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  as  a 
mineral  producer,  the  output,  principally  gold,  for  1920  being  valued 
at  $2,066,154,  as  compared  with  the  1919  production,  worth  $2,170,296. 
In  regard  to  gold  output  alone  this  couifty  ranks  fourth,  being  exceeded 
only  by  Yuba,  Amador,  and  Nevada  counties,  the  product  coming  from 
the  dredges.  Its  mineral  resources  include:  Brick,  clay,  gold,  natural 
gas,  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  173 

(!!oinmercial  production  for  1!)20  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

IJrick  and  tile $248,433 

Gold  1,575,033 

Silver   4.534 

Stone,  miscellaneous  180,563 

Other  minerals* 57,591 


Total  value $2,066,154 

•Includes  natural  gas  and  platinum. 


SAN  BENITO. 
Area :  1,392  square  miles. 
Pojnilation:  8,995  (1920  census). 
Location  :  We.st-central  portion  of  state. 

Although  twentieth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  regard  to 
value  of  total  mineral  production,  San  Benito  leads  in  one  important 
branch  of  the  mineral  industry,  namely,  quiclisilver. 

Its  other  mineral  resources,  many  of  them  undeveloped,  include: 
Antimony,  bituminous  rock,  chromite,  coal,  gypsum,  gems,  limestone, 
mineral  water,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Dolomite 18,000  tons  $57,750 

Quicksilver  3,887  flasks  296,942 

Stone,  miscellaneous  207,250 

other  minerals*  921,082 

Total  value $1,483,021 

*Iuflui]es  cement,  magnesitc,  and  mineral  water. 


SAN  BERNARDINO. 

Ai-ea:  20,157  square  miles. 
Population:  73,401  (1920  census). 
Location:  Southeastern  portion  of  state. 

San  Bernardino,  by  far  the  largest  county  in  the  state,  in  area,  ranks 
sixth  as  regards  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1920  with  a  total 
of  $6,511,348,  as  compared  with  the  1919  total  of  $4,638,685.  The 
increase  is  due  to  cement  and  silver. 

San  Bernardino  for  several  years  led  all  other  counties  in  the  state 
in  point  of  variety  of  minerals,  producing  commercially  during  1918, 
a  total  of  25  different  substances  but  dropped  to  17  in  1919,  compared 
to  19  for  Riverside  County,  and  recovering  first  place  in  1920  with  22 
substances. 


174  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

This  eoniity,  consisting  largely  of  mountain  and  desert  country,  is 
liighly  mineralized,  the  folh)\ving  being  included  among  its  resources: 
Asbestos,  l)arytes,  borax,  brick,  cement,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold, 
granite,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  nitre,  potash,  salt,  glass-sand,  soapstone,  soda, 
miscellaneous  stone,  strontium,  talc,  tungsten,  vanadium,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Borax   5,670  tons  $440,411 

Cement    1,681,283  bbls.  3,051,079 

Clay  95  tons  890 

Copper  5,386  lbs.  991 

Gold 79,195 

Lead    115,876  lbs.  9,270 

Mineral   water   1,110,190  gals.  156,726 

Potasli  15,435  tons  1,082,037 

Salt    202  tons  1,220 

Silver   1,212,987 

Stone,  miscellaneous  169,991 

Other  minerals* .  3;i6,551 

Total  value  $6,S11,318 

*Includes  dolomite,  gems,  granite,  gypsum,  iron  ore,  lime,  limestone,  soda,  and  tale. 


SAN  DIEGO. 

Area:  4,221  square  miles. 
Population:  112,248  (1920  census). 
Location:  Extreme  southwest  corner  of  state. 

S'an  Diego  ranks  twenty-third  in  the  total  value  of  its  mineral  output. 
This  figure  for  1920  equaled  $794,229,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output 
worth  $342,662.  In  1918  for  the  only  time  in  several  years,  there  was 
no  production  of  gems,  in  which  San  Diego  County  has  lead  the  state. 
Aside  from  minerals  commercially  produced,  as  shown  below,  San  Diego 
County  contains  occurrences  of  bismuth,  lithia,  marble,  nickel,  soap- 
stone,  and  tin.     Potash  has  been  produced  from  kelp. 

A  development  of  recent  years  is  the  shipping  of  pebbles  for  grind- 
ing mills. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                                Amount  Value 

Brick  and  tile $87,612 

Clay    5,852  tons  57.522 

Feldspar    2,953  tons  17,715 

Gems   2,100 

Granite   7,838 

Salt    15,300  tons  77,100 

Silica    7,557  tons  18,893 

Stone,  miscellaneous  333,847 

Other  minerals* 191,602 

Total  value  $794,229 

•Includes  lithia,  magnesium  salts,  mineral  water,  tantalum  ore  (columbite). 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION,  175 

SAN  FRANCISCO. 
Area:  43  square  mile.s. 
Population:  506,676  (1920  census). 

Surprising  as  it  may  appear  at  first  glance,  San  Francisco  County 
is  listed  among  the  mineral  producing  sections  of  the  state,  actual 
production  consisting  of  crushed  rock,  sand,  and  gravel.  Small  quan- 
tities of  various  valuable  mineral  substances  are  found  here,  including 
cinnabar,  gypsum,  lignite,  and  magnesite,  none,  however,  in  paying 
quantities. 

In  forty -sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous  $77,55;? 

Other  minerals 2,800 

Total  value  $80,353 

I 

■  SAN  JOAQUIN. 

Area:  1,448  square  miles. 
Population:  79,905  (1920  census). 
Location  :  Central  portion  of  state. 

San  Joaquin  County  reported  a  mineral  production  for  the  year  1920 
having  a  total  value  of  $471,102,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output, 
worth  $435,618. 

Comparatively  few  mineral  substances  are  found  here,  the  chief  ones 
being  brick,  clay,  manganese,  natural  gas,  glass-sand,  and  miscellaneous 
stone.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  are  obtained  by  dredging  in  the 
Mokelumne  River,  which  forms  the  boundary  between  this  county  and 
Amador  on  the  northeast. 

In  twenty-ninth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                          Amount  Value 

Natural  gas  200,433  M.  cu.  ft.  $74,957 

Stone,  miscellaneous  63,077 

Other  minerals* 333,068 

Total  value $471,102 

•Includes  brick,  gold,  manganese,  platinum,  and  silver. 


SAN  LUIS  OBISPO. 
Area:  3,334  square  miles. 
Population:  21,893  (1920  census). 

Location:  Bordered  by  Kern  County  on  tlie  cast  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean  on  the  west. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  San  I^iuis  Obispo  County 
in  1920  was  $405,604,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output,  worth  $212,430, 


176  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  soda.     Among  its  mineral  resources 
both  developed  and  undeveloped,  are :  Asphalt,  bituminous  rock,  brick, 
chromite,  coal,  copper,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  iron,  limestone,  marble, 
mineral  water,  onyx,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
In  thirty-first  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                            Amount  Value 

Chromite    399  tons  $10,440 

Petroleum   42,511  bbls.  59,515 

Quicksilver  1,224  flasks  89,186 

Other  minerals* 246,463 

Total  value .  ^5,604 

'Includes  copper,  granite,  manganese,  so<la,  an<l  miscellaneous  stone. 


SAN  MATEO. 

Area :  IIT  square  miles. 

Population:  36,781  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Peninsula,  adjoined  by  San  Francisco  on  the  north.  ^ 

San  Mateo's  most  important  mineral  products  are  stone,  and  salt, 
the  last-named  being  derived  by  evaporation  from  the  waters  of  San 
Francisco  Bay.  The  total  value  of  all  mineral  production  during  1920 
equaled  $293,103,  as  compared  with  the  1919  figures  of  $241,671,  the 
increase  being  due  to  salt. 

Small  amounts  of  barytes,  chromite,  infusorial  earth,  and  quicksilver 
have  been  noted  in  addition  to  the  items  of  economic  value  given  below. 
Bricks  have  also  been  produced  commercially. 

In  thirt3'-f ourth  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Petroleum  322  bbls.  $966 

Salt   37,409  tons  206,897 

Stone,  miscellaneous  46,010 

Other  minerals* 39,200 

Total  value $293,103 

'Includes  magnesium  salts  and  potash. 


SANTA  BARBARA. 

Area :  2,740  square  miles. 
Population:  41,097  (1920  census). 

Location:  South-western  portion  of  state,  joining  San  Luis  Obispo 
on  the  south. 

Santa  Barbara  County  owes  its  position  of  fifth  in  the  state  in  regard 
to  its  mineral  output  to  the  presence  of  productive  oil  fields  within  itaj 
boundaries.     The  total  value  of  its  mineral  production  during  the  year" 
1920  was  $10,538,611,  as  compared  with  the  1919  output  of  $7,594,917. 


STATISTICS   OF  ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  177 

Aside  from  the  mineral  substances  listed  below,  San|ta  Barbara 
County  contains  asphalt,  diatomaceous  earth,  gilsonite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  and  quicksilver  in  more  or  less  abundance. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  Avas  as  follows  : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Mineral  water 95,843  gals.  $110,931 

Natural  gas  l,a59,665  M.  cu.  ft.  -128,126 

Petroleum   5,808,583  bbls.  9,140,643 

Potash  410  tons  40.000 

Stone,  miscellaneous  27,436 

Other  minerals* 1,091,475 

Total  value  $10,.538,611 

•Includes  bituminous  rock,  brick,  diatomaceous  earth,  quicksilver,   and  sandstone. 


SANTA  CLARA. 
Ai'ea :  1,328  square  miles. 
Population:  100,588  (1920  census). 
Location:  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Santa  Clara  County  reported  a  mineral  output  for  1920  of  $1,038,692 
as  compared  with  the  1919  figures  of  $1,018,571. 

This  county,  lying  largely  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  contains 
a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  including  brick,  chromite,  clay, 
limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  quicksilver, 
soapstone,  and  miscellaneoiLs  stone.  It  stood  second  in  quicksilver 
yield  for  the  year. 

In  twenty-second  place,  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as 
follows: 

Substance                                                                                          Amount  Value 

Brick    11,890  M.  $164,680 

Clay    1,900  tons  4,600 

Magnesite    26,612  tons  392,580 

Mineral  water 3,360  gals.  480 

Petroleum  16,095  bbls.  23,901 

Quicksilver 2,893  flasks  233,199 

Stone,  miscellaneous 129,582 

Other  minerals* 89,670 

Total  value $1,0;«,692 

•Includes  limestone  and  potash. 


SANTA  CRUZ. 
Area :  435  square  miles. 
Population:  26,269  (1920  census). 

Location :  Bordering    Pacific    Ocean,    just    soutli    of    San    IMateo 
County. 

The  mineral  output  of  Santa  Cruz  County,  a  portion  of  which  is 
itemized  below,  amounted  to  a  total  value  of  $3,081,138,  giving  the 

12—12865 


178  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

county  a  standing  of  eleventh  among  all  others  in  the  state  in  this 
regard. 

The  increase  over  the  1919  figure  of  $2,245,056  is  due  mainly  to 
cement. 

The  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Lime    141,633  bbls.  $202,908 

Limestone  5,062  tons  20.101 

Stone,  miscellaneous  23,379 

Other  minerals* 2,834,750 

Total  value $3,081,138 

'Includes  bituminous  rock,  cement,  iron  ore,  mineral  paint,  and  potash. 


SHASTA. 

Area:  3,858  square  miles. 
Population:  13,311  (1920  census). 
Location :  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Shasta  County  stood  twenty-finst  in  California  among  tlie  mineral 
producing  counties  for  1920,  witli  an  output  valued  at  $1,108,538,  as 
compared  with  the  1919  production  worth  $2,776,803.  The  marked 
decrease  in  1918-1920  was  due  to  the  falling  off  in  the  output  of  copper, 
the  large  plants  of  the  Mammoth  and  Mountain  copper  companies  being 
shut  down.  Not  taking  petroleum  into  account,  Shasta  for  a  number  of 
years  led  all  of  the  counties  by  a  wide  margin ;  but  in  1919-1920  was 
passed  by  San  Bernardino,  Inyo,  Yuba,  Plumas,  Amador,  Calaveras,  and 
Nevada  among  the  'metal'  counties. 

Shasta 's  mineral  resources  include :  Asbestos,  barytes,  brick,  chromite, 
coal,  copper,  gold,  iron,  lead,  lime,  limestone,  mineral  water,  molyb- 
denum, pyrite,  silver,  soapstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc. 

Lassen  Peak  is  located  in  southeastern  Shasta  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Copper    810,843  lbs.  $149,195 

Gold 312,901 

Lead    64,400  lbs.  5,152 

Platinum   158  fine  oz.  27,004 

Pyrites    135,399  tons  475,330 

Silver   36,563 

Stone,  miscellaneous 32,650 

Other  minerals*   69,743 

Total  value $1,108,538 

♦Includes  asbestos,  brick,  iron  ore,  lime,  limestone,  and  zinc. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  179 

SIERRA. 
Area:  923  square  miles. 

Fopiilatioti:  1,783  (1920  census). 

Location :  Eastern  border  of  state,  just  north  of  Nevada  County. 

Sierra  County  reported  a  mineral  production  of  $446,861,  consisting 
of  gold  and  silver,  during  the  year  1920,  as  compared  with  the  1919 
output,  worth  $304,879.  Considering  gold  output  alone,  this  county 
stands  eighth ;  and  as  to  total  mineral  yield  thirtieth. 

Aside  from  the  metals  itemized  below.  Sierra  County  contains  deposits 
of  asbestos,  chromite,  copper,  iron,  lead,  platinum,  minerals,  serpentine, 
and  talc. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Gold $442,894 

Silver   3,967 

Total  value  $446,861 

SISKIYOU. 

Area:  6,256  square  miles. 
Population:  18,545  (1920  census). 

Locution:  Extreme  north-central  portion  of  state,  next  to  Oregon 
boundar3^ 

Siskiyou,  fifth  county  in  California  in  regard  to  size,  located  in  a 
highly  mineralized  and  mountainous  country,  ranks  thirtj'-eighth  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1920.  The  decrease  in 
1920  was  due  mainly  to  gold. 

Although  the  county  is  traversed  by  a  transcontinental  railroad  in  a 
north  and  south  line,  the  mineral-bearing  sections  are  almost  without 
exception  far  from  transportation  and  other  facilities.  A  large  part 
of  the  county  is  accessible  by  trail  alone.  Future  development  and 
exploitation  will  doubtless  increase  the  productiveness  of  this  part  of 
the  state  to  a  great  degree. 

Mount  Shasta  is  located  in  Siskiyou  County. 

Among  Siskiyou's  mineral  resources  are:  Chromite,  clay,  coal,  cop- 
per, gems,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  water, 
pumice,  quicksilver,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Chromite   215  tons  $5,732 

Gold  80,707 

Mineral  water 300,150  gals.  60,015 

Silver   5,218 

Stone,  miscellaneous  30,322 

Other  minerals* 47,121 

Total  value  $229,115 

•Includes  copper,  lime,  limestone,  potash,  punu'ce,  and  quicksilver. 


180  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

SOLANO. 

Area :  822  square  miles. 

Population:  40,602  (1920  census). 

Location:  Touching  San  Francisco  Bay  on  the  northeast. 

Solano,  while  mostly  valley  land,  produced  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1920  to  the  total  value  of  $2,930,614,  ranking  thirteenth  among 
the  counties  of  the  state,  the  increase  over  1919  being  due  to  cement. 
Among  her  mineral  resources  are:  Brick,  cement,  clay,  fuller's  earth, 
limestone,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  onyx,  petroleum,  quicksilver, 
salt,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Unapportioned* $2,930,614 

'Includes  cement,  limestone,  onyx,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous 
stone. 


SONOMA. 

Area :  1,577  square  miles. 
Population:  51,990  (1920  census). 

Location  :  South  of  IMendocino  County,  bordering  on  the  Paeifie 
Ocean. 

Sonoma  ranked  thirty-fifth  among  the  counties  of  California  during 
the  year  1920,  with  a  mineral  production  of  $287,245,  as  compared  with 
its  1919  output  worth  $286,038.  More  paving  blocks  have  been  turned 
out  here  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  state. 

Among  Sonoma's  mineral  resources  are:  Brick,  chromite,  clay,  cop- 
per, graphite,  infusorial  earth,  magnesite,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Mineral  water  29,928  gals.  $6,578 

Stone,  miscellaneous  217,667 

Other  minerals* 63,000 


I 


Total  value  $287,245 

*lnchitles  magnesite  and  quicksilver. 


STANISLAUS. 

Area:  1,450  square  miles. 

Population:  43,557   (1920  census). 

Location :  Center  of  state,  bounded  on  south  by  Merced  County. 

Gold  has  usually  been  the  chief  mineral  product  of  Stanislaus  County, 
but  it  was  exceeded  in  1918-1919  by  manganese.     Brick,  clay,  gypsum, 


STATISTICS  OF   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION.  181 

iron,  miueral  paint,  quicksilver,  and  silver  are  found  here  to  some 
extent  as  well.  This  county  for  1920  ranks  thirty-second  in  the  state 
in  regard  to  value  of  minerals,  with  an  output  of  $385,017  as  compared 
with  $544,725  in  1919,  the  decrease  being  due  mainly  to  manganese. 
Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  are  obtained  mainly  by  dredging. 
Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Gold    $142,467 

Magnesite    4,064  tons  39,435 

Manganese    893  tons  12,973 

Mineral  paint  669  tons  7,062 

Silver   775 

Stone,  miscellaneous  181,262 

Other  minerals*  1,043 

Total  vaUic  $385,017 

•Includes  platinum  and  quicksilver. 


SUTTER. 

Area  :  608  square  miles. 

Population:  10,115  (1920  census). 

Location :  Bounded  by  Butte  County  on  the  north  and  .Sacramento 
on  the  south. 

Sutter  is  one  of  only  two  counties  in  the  state  which  for  a  nmnber  of 
years  reported  no  commercial  output  of  some  kind  of  mineral  substance. 
In  1917  some  crushed  rock  was  taken  out,  from  the  Marysville  Buttes, 
but  there  was  no  production  in  1918,  nor  1919.  The  1920  mineral  yield 
was  valued  at  $54,  being  concealed  under  'unapportioned.'  Both  coal 
and  clay  exist  here,  but  deposits  of  neither  mineral  have  been  placed 
on  a  productive  basis. 


TEHAMA. 

Area:  2,893  square  miles. 
Population:  12,882  (1920  census). 

Location :  North-central  portion  of  the  state,  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Shasta. 

Tehama  stands  fiftieth  among  the  fifty-six  mineral  producing  coun- 
ties of  the  state  for  1920,  when  its  output  was  valued  at  $26,400,  as 
compared  with  the  1919  yield  worth  $9,000.  The  advance  in  1918  and. 
tlie  drop  in  1919  was  due  to  chromite. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are  listed :  Brick,  chromite,  copper,  gold, 
manganese,  marble,  mineral  water,  salt,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Substance                                                                                      Amount  Value 

Unapportioned  -.^r-.^-^  $26,400 


182  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 

TRINITY. 
Area :  3,166  square  miles. 
Population:  2,551  (1920  census). 
Location :  Northwestern  portion  of  state. 

Trinity,  like  Siskiyou  County,  requires  transportation  facilities  to 
further  the  development  of  its  many  and  varied  mineral  resources. 
Deposits  of  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  copper,  gold,  mineral  vi^ater, 
platinum,  quicksilver,  silver,  and  building  stone  are  known  here,  but 
with  the  exception  of  gold,  chromite,  copper,  and  platinum,  very  little 
active  production  of  these  mineral  substances  has  been  made  as  yet. 
The  1920  output  of  $562,105  shows  a  decrease  from  the  1919  figure  of 
$571,649. 

In  the  twenty-seventh  place,  commercial  output  for  1920  was : 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Gold    $541,387 

Platinum   37  fine  oz.  6,612 

Silver   3,469 

Stone,  miscellaneous  8,799 

Other  minerals l.&W 

Total  value $562,105 

\ 

TULARE. 

Area  :  4,856  square  miles. 
Population:  59,031  (1920  census). 

Location :  Bounded  by  Inyo  on  the  east,  Kern  on  the  south,  Fresno 
on  the  north. 

Tulare  stands  twenty-sixth  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing  counties, 
the  increase  over  the  1919  value  being  due  to  magnesite.  This  county's 
mineral  resources,  among  others,  are :  Brick,  clay,  copper,  feldspar, 
graphite,  gems,  limestone,  magnesite,  marble,  quartz,  glass-sand,  soap- 
stone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc.  Tulare  for  a  number  of  years  has 
led  the  state  in  magnesite  output,  except  in  1918,  when  it  was  passed 
by  Napa  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows : 

Substanee  Amount  Value 

Magnesite  35,305  tons  $394,16J| 

Natural  gas  400  M.  cu.  f  t.  1£ 

Stone,  miscellaneous  8M 

Other  minerals* 190,467 

Total  value ..x.,^. $593,2S 

*Inclu(^eg  brjck,  feldspar,  granite,  and  limestone. 


'•,.  STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  183 

TUOLUMNE. 

Area :  2,190  square  miles. 

ropulation:  7,768  (1920  census). 

Location  :  East-eeutral  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  Distriet. 

Tuolumne  ranks  twenty-eighth  among  counties  of  the  state  relative 
to  its  total  value  of  mineral  output.  As  a  producer  of  marble  its  stand- 
ing is  first.  The  decrease  in  1920  to  $513,914  from  the  1919  figure  of 
$674,493  was  due  to  gold. 

Chromite,  clay,  copper,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
platinum,  soapstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone  are  among  its 
mineral  resources. 

Commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                               Amount  Value 

Gold  $2.54,569 

Limestone   7,494  tons  15,288 

Silver   6,007 

Stone,  miscellaneous 28,696 

Other  minerals*  209,354 

Total  value  $513,914 

•Includes  dolomite,  lime,  iiiarblc,  and  platininii. 


VENTURA. 

Area :  1,878  square  miles. 

Population:  28,724  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  bordering  on  Pacific  Ocean. 

Ventura  is  the  seventh  county  in  the  state  in  respect  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  production  for  1920,  the  exact  figure  being  $5,229,175,  as 
compared  with  the  output  for  1919,  worth  $3,017,074,  the  advance  being 
due  to  petroleum. 

The  highest  gravity  petroleum  produced  in  the  state  is  found  here. 

Among  its  other  mineral  resources  are:  Asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay, 
mineral  water,  natural  gas,  sandstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  commercial  production  for  1920  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Natural  gas  1,.521,448  M.  cu.  ft.  $214,280 

Petroleum   1,989,681  bbls.  4,988,i:w 

Stone,  miscellaneous -. 26,265 

Other  minerals* 500 

Total  value $5,229,175 

•Includes  mineral  paint  and  sandstone. 


184  MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 

YOLO. 

Area :  1,014  square  miles. 
Population:  17,105  (1920  census). 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley,  bounded  by  Sutter  on  the  ea.st  and 
Colusa  on  the  north. 

The  mineral  production  from  Yolo  County  during  the  year  1920  con- 
sisted mainly  of  miscellaneous  stone,  valued  at  $9,472,  ranking  it  in 
fifty-fifth  place.  Deposits  of  undetermined  value  of  iron  and  sandstone 
have  been  discovered  within  the  confines  of  this  county.  Quicksilver 
has  also  been  produced. 


YUBA. 

Area :  639  square  miles. 

Population:  10,375  (1920  census). 

Location  :  Lies  west  of  Sierra  and  Nevada  counties ;  south  of  Plumas. 

Yuba  is  tenth  of  the  fifty-six  mineral  producing  counties  of  the 
state,  and  leads  in  regard  to  gold  output,  surpassing  both  Nevada  and 
Amador  counties  in  1918-1920  in  that  metal.  Iron  and  clay  deposits 
have  been  reported  in  this  county,  aside  from  the  following  commercial 
production  shown  for  the  year  1920,  the  decrease  from  the  1919  figure 
of  $4,261,545  being  due  to  gold. 

Substance                                                                                              Amount  Value 

Gold . $3,467,769 

Platinum   113  fine  oz.  14,395 

Silver   -,-      16,502 

Stone,  miscellaneous  :__  74  943 

Other  minerals II-I-I""IIII  '  40 

Total  value  :. |3.578,64» 


APPENDIX.  185 

CHAPTER  EIGHT. 

APPENDIX. 


MINING  BUREAU  ACT. 

Chapter  679. 

[Stats.,  1913.] 

An  act  establishing  a  state  mining  bureau,  creating  the  office  of  state  mineralogist, 
fixing  his  salary  and  prescribing  his  powers  and  duties;  providing  for  the 
employment  of  officers  and  employees  of  said  bureau,  making  it  the  duty  of 
persons  in  charge  of  mines,  mining  operations  and  quarries  to  make  certain 
reports,  providing  for  the  investigation  of  mining  operations,  dealings  and 
transactions  and  the  prosecution  for  defrauding,  swindling  and  cheating  therein, 
creating  a  state  mining  bureau  fund  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  this  act  and  repealing  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau, 
and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the  direction,  man- 
agement and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment, duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the 
duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  and  all  acts 
amendatory  thereof  and   supplemental  thereto  or  in  conflict  herewith. 

[Approved  June  16,  1913.     In  effect  Augu.'^t  10,  1913.] 
The  people  of  the  State  of  California  do  enact  as  follous: 

Section  1.  There  is  hereby  created  and  established  a  state  mining  bureau.  The 
chief  officer  of  such  bureau  shall  be  the  state  mineralogist,  which  oflSce  is  hereby 
created. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  of  the  State  of  California  and  he  is 
hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  citizen  and  resident  of  this  state,  having  a  practical 
and  scientific  knowledge  of  mining,  to  the  office  of  state  mineralogist.  Said  state 
mineralogist  shall  hold  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  governor.  He  shall  be  a  civil 
executive  officer.  He  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  same  oath  of  office  as  other 
state  officers.  He  shall  receive  for  his  services  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars 
($300)  per  month,  to  be  paid  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
salaries  of  other  state  officers.  He  shall  also  receive  his  necessary  traveling 
expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of  his  office.  He  shall  give  bond  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000), 
said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  governor  of  the  State  of  California. 

Sec.  3.  Said  state  mineralogist  shall  employ  competent  geologists,  field  assistants, 
qualified  specialists  and  office  employees  when  necessary  in  the  execution  of  his 
plans  and  operations  of  the  bureau,  and  fix  their  compensation.  The  said  employees 
shall  be  allowed  their  necessary  traveling  expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of 
said  department  and  shall  hold  office  at  the  pleasure  of  said  state  mineralogist. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  state  mineralogist  to  make,  facilitate,  and 
encourage,  special  studies  of  the  mineral  resources  and  mineral  industries  of  the 
state.  It  shall  be  his  duty :  to  collect  statistics  concerning  the  occurrence  and  pro- 
duction of  the  economically  important  minerals  and  the  methods  pursued  in  making 
their  valuable  constituents  available  for  commercial  use ;  to  make  a  collection  of 
typical  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  and 
commercial  importance,  such  collection  constituting  the  museum  of  the  state  mining 
bureau  ;  to  provide  a  library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  bearing  upon  the  mineral 
industries,  and  sciences  of  mineralogy  and  geology,  and  arts  of  mining  and  metallurgy, 
such  library  constituting  the  library  of  the  state  mining  bureau  ;  to  make  a  collectiou 
of  models,  drawings  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  appliances  used  in  mining 
and  iQetftUurgicftl  processes ;  to  preserve  and  so  maintain  such  collections  and  library 


186  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

as  lo  make  thoin  availal)le  for  reference  and  examination,  and  open  to  public  inspec- 
tion at  reasonable  hours ;  to  maintain,  in  effect,  a  bureau  of  information  concerning 
the  mineral  industries  of  this  state,  to  consist  of  such  collections  and  library,  and  to 
arrange,  classify,  catalogue,  and  index  the  data  therein  contained,  in  a  manner  to 
make  the  information  available  to  those  desiriug  it ;  to  issue  from  time  to  time  such 
bulletins  as  he  may  deem  advisable  concerning  the  statistics  and  technology  of  the 
mineral  industries  of  this  state. 

Sec.  5.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager 
or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of  whatever  kind  or  character, 
within  the  state,  to  forward  to  the  state  mineralogist,  upon  his  request,  at  his  office 
not  later  than  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  in  each  year,  a  detailed  report  upon  forms 
which  will  be  furnished  showing  the  character  of  the  mine,  the  number  of  men  then 
employed,  the  method  of  working  such  mine  and  the  general  condition  thereof,  the 
total  mineral  production  for  the  past  year,  and  such  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent, 
manager  or  other  person  in  charge  of  any  mine  within  the  state  must  furnish 
whatever  information  relative  to  such  mine  as  the  state  mineralogist  may  from 
time  to  time  require  for  the  proper  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Any  owner, 
lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager  or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of 
whatever  kind  or  character  within  the  state,  who  fails  to  comply  with  the  above 
provisions  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor.* 

Sec.  6.  The  state  mineralogist  now  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state 
mineralogist  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state  mineralogist  as  in  this 
act  provided  until  the  appointment  and  qualification  of  his  successor  as  in  thi.s  act 
provided. 

Sec.  7.  The  said  state  mineralogist  shall  take  possession,  charge  and  control  of 
the  offices  now  occupied  and  used  by  the  board  of  trustees  and  state  mineralogist 
and  the  museum,  library  and  laboratory  of  the  mining  bureau  located  in  San  Fran- 
cisco as  provided  for  by  a  certain  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  23,  1893, 
and  hereafter  referred  to  in  section  fourteen  hereof,  and  shall  maintain  such  offices, 
museum,  library  and  laboratory  for  the  purposes  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  S.  Said  state  mineralogist  or  qualified  assistant  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  at  any  time  to  enter  or  examine  any  and  all  mines,  quarries,  wells,  mills, 
reduction  works,  refining  works  and  other  mineral  properties  or  working  plants  in 
this  state  in  order  to  gather  data  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  The  state  mineralogist  shall  make  a  biennial  report  to  the  governor  on 
or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September  next  preceding  the"  regular  session  of  the 
legislature. 

Sec.  10.  All  moneys  received  by  the  state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof 
(except  such  as  may  be  paid  to  them  by  the  state  for  disbursement)  shall  be 
receipted  for  by  the  state  mineralogist  or  other  officer  authorized  by  him  to  act  in 
his  place  and  at  least  once  a  month  accounted  for  by  him  to  the  state  controller  and 
paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  a  fund  which  is  hereby  created  and 
designated  "state  mining  bureau  fund."  All  moneys  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof  received  from  any  source  whatsoever, 
shall  be  immediately  paid  over  to  the  state  mineralogist  and  by  him  accounted  for 
to  the  controller  and  paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  said  fund.  Said 
fund  shall  be  used  and  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  use  of  said  bureau  in  carrying 
out  the  purposes  of  this  act. 

Sec.  11.  The  said  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
receive  on  behalf  of  this  state,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  state  mining  bureau, 
gifts,  bequests,  devises  and  legacies  of  real  or  other  property  and  to  use  the  same  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  donors,  and  if  no  instructions  are  given  by  said 
donors,  to  manage,  use,  and  dispose  of  the  gifts  and  bequests  and  legacies  for  the 
best  interests  of  said  state  mining  bureau  and  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem  proper. 


*Sec.  19  of  the  Penal  Code  of  California  provides:  "Except  in  cases  where  a  dif- 
ferent punishment  is  prescribed  by  this  code,  every  offense  declared  to  be  a  misde- 
meanor is  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a  county  jail  not  exceeding  six  months,  or 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  both." 


APPENDIX.  187 

Sec.  12.  The  state  mineralogist  may,  wlienever  lie  deems  it  a(lvisal)le,  prepare  a 
.special  collection  of  ores  and  minerals  of  California  to  be  .sent  to  or  used  at  any 
world's  fair  or  exposition  in  order  to  display  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  state. 

Sfx".  13.  The  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  empowered  to  fix  a  price  upon  and  to 
dispose  of  to  the  public,  at  such  price,  any  and  all  publications  of  the  state  mining 
l)ureau,  including  reiwrts,  bulletins,  maps,  registers  or  other  publications,  such  price 
shall  approximate  the  cost  of  publication  and  distribution.  Any  and  all  sums 
derived  from  such  disposition,  or  from  gifts  or  bequests  made,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided must  be  accounted  for  by  said  state  mineralogist  and  turned  over  to  the 
state  treasurer  to  be  credited  to  the  mining  bux'eau  fund  as  provided  for  in  section 
ten.  He  is  also  empowered  to  furnish  without  cost  to  public  libraries  the  publications 
of  the  bureau,  and  to  exchange  publications  with  other  geological  surveys  and 
scientific  societies,  etc. 

Sec.  14.  The  state  mineralogist  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  the  successor 
in  interest  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state 
mineralogist,  under  and  by  virtue  of  that  certain  act,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide 
for  the  establishment,  maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the 
state  mining  bureau,  and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to 
be  known  as  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the 
direction,  management,  and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for 
the  appointment,  duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  and  all  books, 
papers,  documents,  personal  propert.y,  records,  and  propertj'  of  every  kind  and 
description  obtained  or  possessed,  or  held  or  controlled  by  the  said  board  of  trustees 
of  the  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state  mineralogist,  and  the  clerks  and 
employees  thereof,  under  the  provisions  of  said  act  of  March  23,  1893,  or  any  act 
supplemental  thereto  or  amendatory  thereof,  shall  immediately  be  turned  over  and 
delivered  to  the  said  state  mineralogist  herein  provided  for,  who  shall  have  charge 
and  control  thereof. 

Sec.  15.  That  certain  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establi.shment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  raining  bureau,  and 
for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  he  known  as  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appointment,  duties 
and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the  duties  of  his  ofiice 
under  the  control,  direction,  and  supervi.sion  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state 
mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  189.3,  together  with  all  acts  amendatory 
thereof  and  supplemental  thereto  and  all  acts  in  conflict  herewith  arc  hereby  repealed. 


188  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING 

BUREAU. 

Publications  of  this  Bureau  will  be  sent  on  receipt  of  tlie  requisite  amount.  Only 
stamps,  coin  or  money  orders  will  be  accepted  in  payment.  The  prices,  noted,  include 
delivery  charges  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Money  orders  should  be  made  payable  to  the  State  Mining  Bureau. 

Personal  checks  will  not  he  accepted. 

REPORTS. 

Asterisk   (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

♦Report         I.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     1880. 
♦Report       II.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1882. 
♦Report     III.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1883. 
♦Report      IV.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     1884. 
♦Report        V.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1885. 
♦Report      VI.     Part   1.     Henry  G.   Hanks.      1886. 
♦Report      VI.     Part   2.     Wm.  Irelan.  Jr.     1886. 
♦Report    VII.      Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.      1887. 
♦Report  VIII.      Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.      1888. 
♦Report      IX.      Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.      1889. 
♦Report        X.      Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.      1890. 

Price 

Report      XI.      Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.      1892.      (First  biennial) $1.00 

♦Report    XII.      J.   J.   Crawford.      1894.      (Second    biennial) 

♦Report  XIII.     J.J.Crawford.      1896.      (Third    biennial) — 

Chapters  of   State   Mineralogist's  Report,   Biennial  period,    1913-1914,   Fletcher      

Hamilton  : 
♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Amador,  Calaveras  and  Tuolumne  Counties — 

W.   B.  Tucker.      1915 — 

Mines   and   Mineral   Resources,    Colusa,    Glenn,    Lake,    Marin,    Napa,    Solano, 

Sonoma  and  Yolo  Counties — Walter  W.  Bradley.      1915 : .50 

♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Del  Norte,  Humboldt  and  Mendocino  Counties 

— F.    L.    Lowell.      1915 .23 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Fresno,  Kern,  Kings,  Madera,  Mariposa,  Mer- 
ced, San  Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  Counties — Walter  W.  Bradley,  G.  C.  Brown, 

F.  L.  Lowell  and  R.  P.  McLaughlin.      1915 .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Imperial  and  San  Diego  Counties. — F.  J.  H. 

Merrill.     1914 .35 

♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Shasta,  Siskiyou  and  Trinity  Counties — G.  C. 

Brown.     1915 .50 

Report  XIV.     Fletcher  Hamilton.     1915.     Biennial  period  1913-1914.    (The  above 

county  chapters  combined  in  a  single  volume) 2.00 

Chapters  of  State  Mineralogist's  Report,   Biennial   Period,    1915-1916,   Fletcher 
Hamilton  : 
♦Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Alpine,  Inyo  and  Mono  Counties,  with  geologi- 
cal map — Arthur  S.  Eakle,  Emile  Huguenin,  R.  P.  McLaughlin,  Clarence  A. 

Waring.      1917 1.25 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Butte,  Lassen,  Modoc,  Sutter  and  Tehama  Coun- 
ties— W.  Burling  Tucker,  Clarence  A.  Waring.      1917 .50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources,    El    Dorado,    Placer,    Sacramento    and    Yuba 

Counties — W.  Burling  Tucker,  Clarence  A.  Waring.      1917 .65 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Los  Angeles,  Orange  and  Riverside  Counties — 

Frederick  J.   H.   Merrill.      1917 .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Monterey,  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Santa 
Barbara  and  Ventura  Counties — ^Walter  W.  Bradley,  Emile  Huguenin,  C.  A. 

Logan,   Clarence  A.  Waring.      1917 .65 

Mines  and   Mineral   Resources,   San   Bernardino  and  Tulare   Counties — H.   C. 

Cloudman,  Emile  Huguenin,  F.  J.  H.  Merrill,  W.  Burling  Tucker.      1917 .65 

Report  XV.     Fletcher  Hamilton.     1918.     Biennial  pei'iod,  1915-1916.    (The  above 

county  chapters  combined  in  a  single  volume) 3.75 

Chapters  of  the  State  Mineralogist's  Report.     Biennial  period  1917-1918. 
Fletcher  Hamilton  : 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Nevada  County — Errol  MacBoyle.     1918 .75 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Plumas  County — -Errol  MacBoyle.     1918 .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Sierra  County — Errol  MacBoyle.      1918 .50 

Report    XVIL     Fletcher    Hamilton.      1921.     Biennial    period    1919-1920 1.75 


I 


APPENDIX. 


189 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE     CALIFORNIA    STATE     MINING     BUREAU— Continued. 

BULLETINS. 

Asterisk  (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price 

♦Bulletin     1.     Desiccated  Human  Remains. — Winslow  Anxierson.     1888 

♦Bulletin     2.     Methods  of  Mine  Timbering. — W.  H.  Storms.     1894 

♦Bulletin     3.     Gas  and  Petroleum  Yielding  Formations  of  the  Central  Valley  of 

California. — W.    U   Watts.      1894 

♦Bulletin     4.     Catalogue   of  California   Fossils    (Parts    2,    3,   4    and   5). — J.    G. 

Cooper.      1894 

♦Bulletin     5.     The  Cyanide  Process  :  Its  Practical  Application  and  Economical 

Results. — A.   Scheidel.      1894 

Bulletin      6.      California  Gohi  Mill  Practices. — E.  B.   Preston.      1895 $0.50 

♦Bulletin     7.     Mineral   Production   of  CaliJornia,  by  Counties,    1894. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated   .sheet) 

♦Bulletin     8.     Mineral   Production   of  California,   by  Counties,    1895. — Chas.  G. 

■   Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin     9.     Mine  Drainage,  Pumps,  etc. — Hans  C.  Behr.      1896 

♦Bulletin   10.     A    Bibliograpliy    Relating    to    the    Geology.    Palaeontology,    and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California. — A.  W.  Vogdes.     1896 

♦Bulletin   11.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura  and 

Santa  Barbara  Counties. — W.  L.  Watts.      1896 

♦Bulletin   12.     Mineral   Production   of  California,   by   Counties,   1896. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin   13.     Mineral   Production   of  California,   by  Counties,    1897. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated  sheet)    

♦Bulletin   14.     Mineral   Production   of  California,  by   Counties,   1898. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet) -- 

♦Bulletin   15.     Map  of  Oil  City  Oil  Fields,  Fresno  County. — J.  H.  Means 

♦Bulletin   16.     The  Genesis  of  Petroleum  and  Asphaltum  in  California. — A.   S. 

Cooper.      1899    

♦Bulletin   17.     Mineral   Production   of  California,   by  Counties,   1899. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin   IS.     The  Mother  Lode  Region  of  California. — W.  H.  Storms.     1900 

♦Bulletin   19.     Oil   and  Gas   Yielding  Formations  of  California. — W.  L.  Watts. 

1900    — 

♦Bulletin   20.     Synopsis    of    General    Report    of    State    Mining   Bureau. — W.    L. 

Watts.      1900 

♦Bulletin   21.     Mineral   Pioduction  of  California,  by  Counties,   1900. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin   22.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.      1900.      (Tabulated   sheet) 

Bulletin  Reconnaissance  of  the  Colorado  Desert  Mining  District. — Stephen 

Bowers.      1901 

♦Bulletin   23.      The  Copper  Resources  of  California. — P.  C.  DuBois,  F.  M.  Ander- 
son, J.  H.  Tibbits,  and  G.  A.  Tweedy.      1902 .50 

♦Bulletin   24.     The  Saline  Deposits  of  California. — G.  E.  Bailey.     1902 

♦Bulletin   25.     Mineral   Production  of  California,   bv  Counties,    1901. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.     (Tabulated  sheet) I — 

♦Bulletin   26.     Mineral   Production   of   California  for   Fifteen  Years. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.     1901.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  27.     The  Quicksilver  Resources  of  California.' — Wm.  Forstner.      1903_      

♦Bulletin  28.     Mineral   Production   of  California,  by   Counties,   1902. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  29.     Mineral    Production   of   California  for   Sixteen   Years. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      1902.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin   30.     A  Bibliography  of  Geology.  Palteontologj^  and  Mineral  Resources 

of  California. — A.  W.  Vogdes.     1903 

♦Bulletin   31.     Chemical    Analyses    of    California    Petroleum. — H.    N.    Cooper. 

1903.      (Tabulated   sheet) — 

♦Bulletin   32.     Production  and  Use  of  Petroleum  in  California. — P.  W.  Prutzman. 

1904    .25 

♦Bulletin   33.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1903. — Chas   G. 

Yale.     (Tabulated  sheet) -- 

♦Bulletin   34.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Seventeen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.     1903.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   35.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  for  1903. — Chas.  G   Yale     1904 

(Statistical)     ' 

♦Bulletin   36.     Gold  Dredging  in  California. — J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905 

Bulletin   37.     Gems,  Jewelers"  Materials,  and  Ornamental  Stones  of  California. 

— George  F.  Kunz.      1905  : 

First  edition   (without  colored  plates) .25 

♦Second  edition  (with  colored  plates) 

♦Bulletin  38.     The    Structural    and    Industrial    Materials    of    California — Wm. 

Forstner,  T.  C.  Hopkins,  C.  Naramore,  L.  H.  Eddy.      1906 

♦Bulletin   39.     Mineral   Production  of  California,   by  Counties,    1904. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   4  0.     Mineral    Production    of    California    for    Eighteen    Years. — Chas. 

G.    Yale.      1904.      (Tabulated   sheet) 

♦Bulletin   41.     Mines    and    Minerals    of    California,    for    1904. — Chas.    G.    Yale. 

(Statistical)     

♦Bulletin   4  2.     Mineral   Production   of  California,  by   Counties,   1905. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   43.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Nineteen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.     1905.      (Tabulated  sheet) 


190 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNU. 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    CALIFORNIA     STATE     MINING     BUREAU— Continued. 

Asterisk  (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price 

♦Bulletin  4-1.     Mines    and    Minerals    of    California,    for    1905. — Chas.    G.    Yale. 

(Statistical)    

♦Bulletin   45.     Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California. — J.  A.  Edman.      1907 

Bulletin  4G.     General  Index  to  Publications  of  tlie  State  Mining  Bureau. — Com- 
piled by  Chas.  G.  Yale.      1907 .30 

♦Bulletin   47.     Mineral   Production   of  California,   by  Counties,   1906. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated  sheet) _ 

♦Bulletin   4  8.     Mineral   Production   of   California   for  Twenty  Years. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      1906.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   49.     Mines    and    Minerals    of    California,    for    1906. — Chas.    G.    Yale. 

(Statistical)     

♦Bulletin   50.     The   Copper   Resources   of   California. — A.    Hausmann,   J.    Krutt- 

schnitt,  Jr.,  W.  E.  Thorne,  J.  A.  Edman.      1908 l $1.00 

♦Bulletin   51.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties,    1907. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  52.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-one  Years. — D.  H. 

Walker.      1907.       (Tabulated    sheet) 

♦Bulletin   53.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  1907,  with  County  Maps. — 

D.    H.    Walker.      1908.      (Statistical) 

♦Bulletin  54.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties,    1908. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated   sheet) 

♦Bulletin   55.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-two  years. — D.  H. 

Walker.     1908.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   56.     Mineral    Production    for    1908,    County   Maps   and   Mining   Laws 

of  California. — D.  H.  Walker.     1909.      (Statistical) 

♦Bulletin  57.     Gold    Dredging   in    California. — W.    B.    Winston,    Charles   Janin. 

1910    

♦Bulletin   58.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties,    1909. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  59.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-three  Years. — D.  H. 

Walker.     1909.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin   60.      Mineral    Production    for    1909,    County   Maps,   and   Mining   Laws 

of  California. — D.  H.  Walker.      1910.      (Statistical) 

♦Bulletin   61.      Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1910. — D.   H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated   sheet) 

*Bulletin   62.      Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-four  Years. — D.  H. 

Walker.      1910.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  63.     Petroleum  in   Southern  California.— P.  W.   Prutzman.     1912 .75 

♦Bulletin   64.      Mineral  Production  for  1  91 1. — E.  S.  Boalich,  Statistician.     1912__       

♦Bulletin   65.      Mineral  Production  for  1912. — E.  S.  Boalich.      1913 

♦Bulletin   66.      Mining  Laws   (United  States  and  California).     1914 

♦Bulletin   67.     Minerals  of  California. — A.  S.  Eakle.     19r4 

♦Bulletin   68.      Mineral  Pioduction  for  1913. — E.   S.  Boalich.      1914 

♦Bulletin   69.     Petroleum  Industry  of  California,  with  Folio  of  Maps  (18x22  in.) 

— R.  P.  McLaughlin  and  C.  A.  Waring.     1914 2.00 

♦Bulletin   70.      Mineral  Production  for  1914,  with  Mining  Law  Appendix.      1915.       

♦Bulletin   71.      California  Mineral  Production  for  1915,  with  Mining  Law  Appen- 
dix and  Maps. — Walter  W.  Bradley.     1916 

Bulletin  72.     Geologic  Formations  of  California. — James  Perrin  Smith.     1917. 

(For  Map,   see  below) -25 

♦Bulletin   73.     Report  of  Operations  of  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas  for 

1915-1916. — R.   P.  McLaughlin.      1917 

Bulletin  74.     California    Mineral    Production    for    1916,    with   County   Maps. — 

Walter  W.   Bradley.     1917 — 

Bulletin  75.      Mining  Laws,  United  States  and  California.      1917 

Bulletin   76.     Manganese   and   Chromium   in   California. — Walter  W.    Bradley, 
Emile    Huguenin,    C.    A.    Logan,    W.    Burling    Tucker,    C.    A. 

Waring.      1918    .50 

Bulletin  77.     Catalogue    of   the    Publications    of   the    California    State    Mining 

Bureau,  1880-1917. — E.  S.  Boalich.     1918 

Bulletin  78.     Quicksilver  Resources  of  California. — Walter  W.  Bradley.     1918_       1.50 

Bulletin   79.      Magnesite  in  California.      (In  press) 

Bulletin   80.      Tungsten,   Molybdenum  and  Vanadium  in  California.      (In  prep- 
aration)        

Bulletin   81.      Copper  Resources  of  Foothill  Belt,  California.      (In  preparation)       

♦Bulletin   82.     Second    Annual    Report    of    the    State    Oil    and    Gas    Supervisor, 

1916-1917. — R.   P.   McLaughlin.      1918 

Bulletin   83.      California    Mineral    Production    for    1917,    with    County    Maps. — 

Walter  W.  Bradley.      1918 

♦Bulletin   84.     Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  1917- 

1918. — R.  P.  McLaughlin.     1919 

Bulletin   85.      Platinum   Resources   of   California .50 

Bulletin   86.     California    Mineral    Production    for    1918,    with   County   Maps. — 

Walter  W.   Bradley.      1919 —       

♦Bulletin   87.     Commercial  Minerals  of  California. — W.  O.  Castello.     (In  press)       

Bulletin   88.     California   Mineral    Production    for    1919,    with    County   Maps. — 

Walter  W.   Bradley.      1920 

Bulletin   89.     Petroleum    Resources    of    California,    with    special    reference    to 

improved  areas.-;-Lawrence  Vander  Leek.      1921 t 

Bulletin  90.     California   Mineral'  Production   for    1920,   with   County   Maps. — 

Walter   W.    Bradley.      1921 


tWrite  for  price. 


APPENDIX,  191 

PUBLICATIONS    OF     THE     CALIFORNIA     STATE     MINING     BUREAU— Continued. 

PRELIMINARY   REPORTS. 
Asterisk  (*)  indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price 

♦Preliminary  Report  No.   1.     Notes    on    Damage    by    Water    in    California    Oil 

Fields,  Dec,  1913.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin 

♦Preliminary  Report  No.   2.     Notes    on    Damage    bv    Water    in    California    Oil 

Fields,  Mar..   1914.      By  R.  P.  McLaughlin-- 

♦Preliminary   Report   No.    3.     Mangane.se  and  Cliromium,  1917.     By  E.  S.  Boalich       

Preliminary  Report  No.   3.     Manganese    and    Chromium.     By    E.    S.    Boalich. 

(Second  edition) -- 

Preliminary  Report  No.   4.     Tungsten,  Molybdenum  and  Vanadium,  1918.     By 

E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello 

Preliminary  Report  No.   5.     Antimony,    Graphite,    Nickel,    Potash,    Strontium, 

Tin,  r918.     By  E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello 

Preliminary  Report  No.   6.     Review  of  Mining  in  California  during  1919 

♦Preliminary  Report  No.   7.     Clay  Industry  of  California 

REGISTERS  OF   MINES  WITH    MAPS. 

Amador  County $.25 

Butte  County .25 

♦Calaveras  County -- 

♦El   Dorado  County 

♦Inyo  County 

♦Kern  County -- 

♦Lake   County -- 

♦Mariposa    County -- 

♦Nevada  County -- 

♦Placer  County -- -- 

♦Plumas  County -- --_ 

♦San   Bernardino   County -- 

♦San  Diego  County 

Santa  Barbara  County-- -- -- .25 

♦Shasta  County -- 

♦Sierra  County -_ 

♦Siskiyou  County -- 

♦Trinity    County 

♦Tuolumne  County -- 

Yuba  County ^ .25 

Register  of  Oil  Wells  (with  map),  Los  Angeles  City .35 

OTHER    MAPS. 

♦California.  Showing  Mineral  Deposits   (50x60  in.) — mounted 

Forest  Reserves  in  California — mounted .50 

♦Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California _J 

El  Dorado  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

Madera  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests ^20 

Placer  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

Shasta  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests _- .20 

Sierra  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests-- ]20 

Siskiyou  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

♦Trinity  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests 

Tuolumne  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

♦Mother  Lode  Region 

♦Desert  Region  of  Southern  California .10 

Minaret  Region,  Madera  County .20 

♦Copper  Deposits  in  California .05 

Tuolumne  County .25 

Geological  Map  of  California  (50x60  in.) — mounted — 2!50 

Geological  Map  of  Inyo  County .60 

OIL   FIELDS   MAPS, 

The  following  maps  of  the  oil  fields  of  tlie  state  liave  been  completed  and  placed 
on  sale. 

The  prices  of  the  maps  are  75  cents  per  copy,  with  the  e.xception  of  the  Sargent 
oil  map,  which  is  50  cents.     These  prices  include  postage. 
Map  No.     1 — Sargent,  Santa  Clara  County. 

Map  No.      2 — Santa  Maria,   including  Cat  Caiion  and  Los  Alamos. 
Map  No.     3 — Santa  Maria,  including  Casmalia  and  Lompoc. 
Map  No.     4 — Whittier-Fullerton,    including    Olinda,    Brea    Cafion,    Puente    Hills,    East 

Coyote,  and  Richfield. 
Map  No.     5 — Whittier-Fullerton,  including  Whittier,  West  Coyote,  and  Montebello. 
Map  No.     6 — Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles  County. 
Map  No.     7 — Sunset  and  San  Emidio,  Kern  County. 
Map  No.      8 — South  Midway  and  Buena  Vista  Hills,  Kern  County. 
Map  No.     9 — North  Midway  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County. 


192  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Map  No.  10 — Belridge  and  McKittrick  Front,  Kern  County. 

Map  No.  11 — Lost  Hills  and  North  Belridge,  Kern  County. 

Map  No.  12 — Devils  Den,  Kern  County. 

Map  No.  13 — Kern  River,  Kern  County. 

Map  No.  14 — Coalinga,  Fresno  County. 

Map  No.  15 — Elk  Hills,  Kern  County. 

Map  No.  16 — Ventura-Ojai,  Ventura  County. 

Map  No.  17 — Santa  Paula-Sespe  Oil  Fields,  Ventura  County. 

Map  No.  18 — Piru-Siml-Newhall. 

Map  No.  19 — Arroyo  Grande,   San  Luis  Obispo  County. 

Map  No.  2  0 — Huntington  Beach-Newport. 

Map  No.  21 — Portion  of  District  4,  showing  boundaries  of  oil  fields,  Kern  and  Kings 

Counties. 

Map  No.  22 — Portion  of  District  3,  showing  oil  fields,  Santa  Barbara  County. 

Map  No.  23 — Portion  of  District  2,  showing  boundaries  of  oil  fields,  Ventura  County. 

Map  No.  24 — Portion  of  District  1,  showing  boundaries  of  oil  fields,  Los  Angeles  and 

Orange  Counties. 

Map  No.  25 — Kern  River  Oil  Field. 

Map  No.  26 — Huntington  Beach,  Orange  County. 

DETERMINATION  OF  MINERAL  SAMPLES. 

Samples  (limited  to  three  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  state  may  be 
sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  charge. 
No  samples  will  be  determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  state.  It  must  be 
understood  that  no  assays  or  quantitative  determinations  will  be  made.  Samples 
should  be  in  lump  form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  on  out- 
side of  package,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless  delivery  charges  are  prepaid. 
A  letter  should  accompany  sample,  giving  locality  W'here  mineral  was  found  and  the 
nature  of  the  information  desired. 


APPENDIX. 


19^ 


Outline  map  of  California,  showing  relative  areas  of  ten  other  states. 

The  following  county  inaps  show  all  towns,  post  offices,  railroads,  stage  lines,  and 
the  highways.  They  are  especially  valuable  to  all  who  wish  to  leave  the  railroad 
and  penetrate  to  the  interior  of  the  mining  districts  of  tlie  state.  These  maps  must 
not  be  reproduced  without  obtaining  permission  from  the  Mining  Bureau. 


13—12865 


194  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


o 

u 
O 


u 

h 
< 

h 


195 


STATE 


OREGON 


Highways 
>  Post   Officer 

O    OTHUt    PLAC£S 

(SmaU  ff^tjrea    <^e/rofe  a/hfude^) 


Sca/e  of  miies. 


STATE  Mining   Bureau  -  1916 
196     - 


< 

< 
> 

UJ 


h 
< 

h 


SIERRA 


197 


198 


199 


200 


201 


^— ^^ 


3X±nQ 


202 


203 


f*-'-\ 


va3iMvnv     I 


204 


'^'-'■f^'^ 


20: 


<^  i     -^^ 


206 


207 


20S 


Ij-155g5 


209 


< 

1  ''  f 

**•               NT 

'^ 

V  /^^\\ 

^#  ' 

^yK      \ 

^w 

v^Ov 

^*~A  ^    \  W*'- 

v-A 

T^N  V 

U 

^») 

37""      ^~"N\^^Jk     ''>ni-"W"''^'^\'^^.^\x 

0 

1 

x^-^.y^ 

^^.A     ^^  jp'^^    '  -;  -, 

a 

^ci 

■\^^^^^g£;^^^ 

a 

11 

Ci 

^v% 

x^^t^p^^^ 

^ 

<: 

--  '^v^*^ 

.^^^^""^Vv      f    "^%J^^ 

^ 

K^  *-«>. 

'^^w$9fevr-^^  "^^ 

< 

Y~<^- 

J^^' 

\\  ""^.^iS^  ^^^^^    V'^o**y  /    r^'"-!  °  vv 

K 

^^Mr.-^^:"'.' 

^,iiL\ 

+w^OK    / '''^^^ff ■    12.      /%^  ^Ir             '  ' '' 

z 

Ui 


^^^/// 


/4  .-J%; 


i®  ^  -W^  ^■i-> 


S^ 


"'V 


..^- 

•/•' 


s 


'^,  *> 


s>. 


v*> 


to     /N. 


xa 


• \ 


'^ 


■\\\'\, 


ril; 


U-    it 


<> 


y 


^r 


Q 


'-^ 


N 


■2T0' 


212 


213 


INDEX. 


Page 

Agua  Caliente  Springs 136 

Alameda  County 155 

Map  of 203 

Alpine  County 156 

Map  of 201 

Aluminum 48 

Amador  County 156 

Map  of 201 

Amblygonite 132 

American    Institute    of    Mining    Engi- 
neers, cited 50-69 

Ammonium  Sulphate 20 

Antimony    49 

Total  production 49 

Appendix    185 

Architectural   terra  cotta 118 

Arrowhead  Hot  Springs,  radioactivity 

at    135 

Arsenic    50 

Art  pottery 118 

Asbestos    113 

Classes  and  characteristics 114 

Total  production , 115 

Asbestos  &  Mineral  Corporation  cited-   115 
Asphalt 84 

Bailey,   G.  E.,  cited 135 

Barytes 116 

Total  production 116 

Ballast    108 

Bartlett  Springs 135 

Basalt,  Columnar  at  Dunsmuir 110 

Bauxite 48 

Benitoite 124 

Beryl    124 

Bismuth    50 

From  blister  copper 50 

Bisque  doll  heads 118 

Bituminous  rock 85 

Total  production 85 

Bloodstone    124 

Borax    145 

Production,  1864-1920 146 

Brand  and  Stevens'  pumice 137 

Brick    85 

Production  of  various  kinds 87 

Total   production,    1893-1920 88 

Buckeye   Manganese  mine 64 

Building    stone.      (See    Granite,    Mar- 
ble,  Sandstone,  etc.) 

Bulletins,  list  of 189 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  cited 122 

Burma,  production  of  tungsten  in 80 

Butler.  B.  S.,  cited 133 

Butte  County 157 

Map  of 198 

Cadmium    50 

Calaveras  County 157 

Map  of ^^ 201 

California,  area  of 154 

Graphite  Company 126 

Map   of.    showing   relative   areas   of 

ten  other  states 193 

Californite    124 

Calistoga  'geysers' 134 

Canadian  magnesite 98 

Caribou  Power  House 12 

Carizzo  Plains,  'salt  cake'  on 152 

Cement    88 

Potash  as  a  by-product  from 89 

Total  production 90 

Chalcedony 124 

Chicken  grit 121 


Page 

Chromite 90 

Concentration  of 92 

Economic  condition  of 91 

Imports  of 91 

Occurrence  of 92 

Prices  of 92 

Total  production 93 

Chrysoprase 12.'> 

Clay — pottery    116-119 

Production,  1887-1920 119 

Products 118 

Coal    19 

Total  production  of 20 

Cobalt    51 

Colemanite 145 

Collom.   R.    E..   cited 27,   42-43-44 

Columbia  Marble  Company  quarry Idl 

Colusa  County ]5S 

Map  of 202 

Concentration  of  chromite 92 

Of    molybdenum 68 

Tungsten 81 

Concrete  Bridge  on  State  Highway 89 

Rock  for 98 

Consular   Report,   cited 144 

Contra  Costa  County 158 

Map  of 200 

Copper 52 

Flotation  concentration  of 53 

Leaching  of 54 

Production,  1887-1920 55 

Cost  data  on  magnesite 98 

On  power  in  the  oil  fields 22 

On  quicksilver 72 

Counties,  mineral  production  of 15 

Crushed  rock 108-109 

Cryolite 45 

Cupro-descloizite Z  81 

Curbing 94 

Current  prices  of  ores  and  minerals 17 

Del  Norte  County 159 

Map  of 195 

Determination  of  mineral  samples 192 

Diamonds   124 

Diatomaceous  earth 129 

Dividends  by  metal  producers 17 

By  oil  companies 41 

Dolbear,  S.  H.,  cited 91 

Doll   heads,  bisque 118 

Dolomite   119 

Total  production 120 

Dredge  production  of  platinum 69 

Dredging,  gold,  decline  of 56 

El  Dorado  County 159 

Map  of 199 

Economic  situation  of  quicksilver 72 

Electric  smelting  of  ferro  alloys 61 

Electrolytic  zinc  plants 82 

Elk  Hills,  gas  in 21 

Engels   Copper   Company 53-54 

Exhibit  of  California   structural   ma- 
terials      2 

Faience  tile 118 

Feldspar   120 

Total  production 121 

Ferberite    80 

Ferro-chrome  by  electric  furnace 91 

Ferro-manganese    . 63-66 

By  electric   furnace 65 

Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  Eureka 

slate    on : 104 

Filter  sand 106 

Fire-clay ____  116 


216 


INDEX. 


Page 

Fluorspar   122 

Fordney  Tariff  Schedule 17 

Foundry  core  sand 106 

Fresno  County 160 

Map  of 205 

Fresno  Rock  Products  Company  plant  111 

Fuels 19 

Fuller's  earth    122 

Total  production 123 

Garnet 124 

Gas   (See  Natural  Gas). 

Gasoline  from  natural  gas 23 

Gems    124 

Total  production 125 

Geysers  at  Calistoga 134 

California,  radioactivity  at 134 

Gladding-McBean     Company     pottery 

plant    119 

Glass  sand 139 

Glenn   County   160 

Map  of 202 

Gold 55 

Dredging,  decline  of 56 

Outlook  for  1921 56 

Total  production 60 

Good.vear,  W.  A.,  cited 20 

Gould.  H.  W.,  cited 73 

Granite    93 

Production,  1887-1920 95 

Graphite    125 

Gravel    107 

Great  Western  Power  Company 12 

Grinding  mill  pebbles 106 

Gvpsum 127 

Total  production 128 

Hanks,  Henry  G.,  cited 29 

High-speed  steels 79 

Highway  construction 105 

Hill,  J.  M.,  cited 70 

Hiibnerite   80 

Huguenin.  Emile 137 

Humboldt    County    161 

Map  of 197 

Hvdrargillite    48 

Hyacinth 124 

Hydrocarbons    19-46 

Hydroelectric    power 12-13-46 

Iceland    spar 124 

Imperial  County 161 

Map  of 213 

Industrial    materials    112 

Infusorial   earth    129 

Total  production 130 

Invo  County 162 

Map  of 207 

lone  lignite,  oil  from 20 

Iridium    61-70-71 

Iron   ore   61 

Electric    smelting   of 61 

Total  production 62 

Jasper   109 

Jewelers'  materials  (See  Gems). 

Katz.  F.  J.,  cited 121 

Kemp,  J.  F.,  cited 71 

Kern  County 163 

Map  of 208 

Kings  County 163 

Map  of 206 

Kunzite 124 

Ladd  mine,  manganese  production  of_     66 

Ladoo.  R.  B.,  cited 141 

Lake  County 164 

Map  of 20- 

Lassen  County 164 

Map  of 196 

Lassen  Peak 17S 


Page 

Lawver,  A.  M.,  cited 78 

Lead 62 

Production,     1887-1920 63 

Lepidolite   132 

Lignite    20 

Lime    95 

Limestone 130 

Total     value     lime     and     limestone, 

1887-1920    132 

Lithia    132 

Lithopone   116 

Logan,   C.   A 101 

Los   Angeles  County 165 

Map  of 211 

Macadam    108-109 

McLaughlin,  R.  P.,  cited 43-45 

Madera  County 165 

Map  of 204 

Magnesite 96 

Calcining  furnace 98 

Duty  on 98 

Foreign  competition  in 98 

Imports  of 98 

OccuiTence    of 96 

Producing  districts 96 

Production  bv  counties 99 

Production    1887-1920 100 

Refractories   plants 97 

Standardizing  domestic  product 99 

Uses  of 97 

Values  of 98 

Magnesium  salts 147 

Maltby,    C.    A 66 

Manganese   63 

Imports  of,  from  Brazil 63 

Mine  photographs 64-66 

Prices  of 64-66 

Total  production 66 

Maps,  list  of,  various  counties 191 

Marble 100 

Production,     1887-1920 102 

Marin   County   166 

Map  of 200 

Mariposa  County 166 

Map  of 204 

Mendocino  County 167 

Map  of 202 

Merced  County .- 167 

Map  of 204 

Merwin,   S.   R 131 

Metals 47 

Mica 133 

Middleton.  Jefferson,  cited 123 

Mineral  industry,  review  of 11 

Current  prices 17 

Output.  1920    (tabulation) 14 

Output  by  counties 15 

Output,    comparative    value,     1919- 

1920    14 

Paint    133 

Samples,  determination  of 192 

Water    134 

Production,     1887-1920 136 

Minerals,  total  production  of  by  years     16 

Variety  of,  produced  in  California 13 

Mining  and  Scientific  Press,  cited_17— 53-54 

Mining  Bureau  Act 185 

Mint  reports,  cited 60 

Miscellaneous  stone 105 

Modoc  County 168 

Map  of 196 

Molybdenum 67 

Concentration  of 67 

Mono  County 168 

Map  of 207 

Monterey  County 168 

Map  o'f 209 

Monumental   stone 94l 

Moran,  R.  B.,  cited 40 

Moulding  sand 107 

Myrickite    124 


INDEX. 


217 


P;igo 

Napa  County 169 

Map  of 200 

Natural  gas 21 

Gasoline  from 23 

Production,  1888-1920 23 

vs.   Electricity  for  power 21 

Nevada  County  169 

Map  of 199 

New    Idria    Quicksilver    Mining    Com- 
pany plant 73 

Nickel    68 

Nitrates    -. 148 

Oil   (See  Petroleum). 

Fields,  electric  power  in 28 

Insert  showing  operation  of  proved 

land    42 

Land     Ownership 43 

Lands,  proved 4:^ 

Water  problems 41! 

Onyx    102 

Opal 124 

Optical  spar 124 

Orange   County   170 

Map  of 211 

Osmium 69-70 

Osmiridium ;__      69 

Pacific  Rock  Salt  Co.  deposit 151 

Page,  Wilbur  J.,  cited 45-46 

Palladium 68 

Paving  blocks 106 

Peat 19 

Pebbles  for  grinding  mills 106 

Petroleum 25-46 

Average  price  by  county,  1914-1920  28 

Dividends  from 41 

Federal  Trade  Commission  Report--  33 

Financial   tables 39-41 

Operating  costs  by  fields 41 

Prices  bv  fields 28 

Production,  1875-1920 30-34 

Production  and  value  by  counties--  28 

Production  by  fields 31 

Production  of  light  and  heavy  gravi- 
ties    32 

Production  statistics,  July  to  Decem- 
ber   31,    1920 44 

Stability  of 38 

Statistics  of  well  operations 32 

Storage  of 33 

Yield  per  day  of  wells 41 

Phalen,  W.  C,  cited 99 

Phosphates 137 

Pipe   lines  for  gas  transportation 23 

Placer  County 171 

Map  of 199 

Platinum 68 

From    blister    copper 69 

Prices  of v(t-71 

Production  of,   1887-1920 71 

Plumas  County 171 

Map  of 19S 

Porcelain     117 

Potash 148 

From  cement 149 

Total    production    of 150 

Pottery    clays 116 

Use  of  feldspar  in liiii 

Power  costs  in  the  oil  fields 33 

Proved  oil  lands , 42 

Publications  of  State  Mining  Bureau-  188 

Pumice    137 

Pyrite    138 

Total  production 139 

Quartz 139 

Crystals    124 

Quicksilver 72 

Duty  on 73 

Kconomic  situation  of 74 

Foreign  competition  in 74 

1?— 12865 


Quicksilver — Continued.  Page 

Furnaces,  new 75 

Outlook  for  1921 76 

Prices    72 

Production  by  counties 75 

Total  production 76 

Uses  of 74 

Radioactivity  of  hot  springs 134 

Randol,  J.  B.,  cited 76 

Red  shale 109 

Re-soiling    dredge    of    Natomas    Com- 
pany       56 

Rhodonite 124 

Richmond  Refinery,  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany       24 

Riprap 108 

Riverside  County 172 

Map   of    213 

Roads,  construction  of 105 

Roofing  sand 107 

Stone  crushed  for 108 

Tile    118 

Rubble 108-109 

Sacramento  City  Library 118 

Sacramento  County 172 

Map  of 201 

Salines 145 

Salt    150 

Production,     1887-1920 152 

Samples,  determination  of 192 

San  Benito  County 173 

Map  of 209 

Sfin  Bernardino  County . 173 

Map  of 212 

San   Diego  County 174 

Map  of : 213 

San    Francisco   County 175 

Map   of   .203 

San   Joaquin   County 175 

Map  of 201 

San  Luis  Obispo  County 175 

Early  chromite  shipments  from 92 

Map  of 210 

San  Mateo  Countv 176 

Map  of 203 

Sand,  glass 139 

Sand    and    gravel 107-110 

Sandstone 103 

Production,  1887-1920 103 

Sanitary  ware ' 118 

Santa  Barbara  County 176 

Map  of 210 

Santa  Clara  County 177 

Map  of 203 

Santa  Cruz  County 177 

Map  of 203 

Schaller,  W.  T.,  cited 133 

Scheelite  80 

Scott     quicksilver    furnace     used     for 

magnesite 98 

Serpentine    103 

Sewer  pipe 118 

Shasta    County    178 

Map  of 197 

Sierra  County 179 

Map  of 198 

Silica 139 

Total  production 140 

Silver 77 

Production  of,  by  counties 78 

Production,  1880-1920 78 

Siskiyou  County 179 

Map  of 195 

Slate    104 

Production,  1889-1920 104 

Soapstone 140 

Total  production 142 

Soda 152 

Total  production  of 153 

Solano  County 180 

Map  of 200 


218 


INDEX. 


Page 

Sonoma  County 180 

Map  of 200 

Sorel  cement   97 

Spelter.      (See  Zinc.) 

Standard  Oil  Company,  cited 24-26-33 

Stanislaus  County 180 

Map  of 204 

State  Mineralogist's  Reports,  list  of —   188 

Mining  Bureau  publications,  list-188-191 
Stone,  miscellaneous 105 

Production  by  counties 107-108-109 

Production  by   years 106 

Stoneware 118 

Strontium 142 

Structural    materials 83-105 

Exhibit   of    2 

Increased  production  of 11 

Sulphur 143 

Summerland    oil    field 40 

Sutter  County 181 

Map  of 199 

Tariff  Schedule,  Fordney 17 

Talc    140 

Teesdale,  C.  H.,  cited 122 

Tehama  County 181 

Map  of 197 

Terra  cotta 118 

Terazzo 130 

Tesla  coal   mine 20 

District,  manganese  in 66 

Tile    85-118 

Tin 78 

Topaz    1?4 

Tourmaline 124 

Trans.  Amer.  Inst.  Min.  Eng.,  cited 69 

Travertine    102 

Treanor,   John,   cited 122 

Trinity  County   182 

Iridium  from  70 

Map  of 197 


Page 

Tube  mill  pebbles 106 

Tucker,  W.  B 151 

Tulare  County 182 

Map  of 206 

Tulare  Lake  district,  natural  gas  in —  21 

Tungsten 79 

Concentration  of 81 

Total  production 81 

Tuolumne  County 183 

Map  of 201 

United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  cited-    141 

Commerce  Reports,   cited 80-115 

Department  of  Agriculture,  cited 147 

Federal  Trade  Comm.  Report 33 

Geological  Survey,  cited— 20-30-51-80-127 

Vanadium 81 

Veatch.  J.  A.,  discovery  of  borax  by__  145 

Ventura   County 183 

Map  of 211 

Volcanic  ash   137 

Waring.  C.   A 61 

Well  flowing  10,000  barrels  of  oil 31 

Whiting 131 

Witherite    116 

Wolframite 80 

Yale.  Chas.  G.,  cited 58-77 

Yolo  County 184 

Map    of 200 

Yosemite  Valley 166 

Yuba  County 184 

Map  of 199 

Zinc    82 

Plants,  electrolytic 82 

Total  production 82 


12865     12-21     5M 


ar-  ■■■ 


^ 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED   BELOW 


BOOKS   REQUESTED   BY  ANOTHER   BORROWER 
ARE  SUBJECT  TO  RECALL  AFTER  ONE  WEEK. 
RENEWED   BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO 
IMMEDIATE   RECALL 


JUN3  0J?^£Q 
'1981 

ys  SCI  UaSa^i  PHYS  SCI  LIBRARY 


:JUN3L82^E8  26W 


JUN30  1984 
JUN  30  1985 

JUN  30  1986 


RECEIVED 

NOV    i)  1986 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip— Series  458 


3  1175  00488  8742 


J 


PHYSICAL 
SCIENCES 
LIBRARY 


C3 
A3 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALVQBUtA 

DAVIS 


113350 


THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

CORDIALLY    INVITES    YOU    TO    VISIT 

ITS  VARIOUS   DEPARTMENTS   MAINTAINED 

FOR  THE   PURPOSE  OF   FURTHERING 

THE    DEVELOPMENT   OF  THE 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  CALI- 
FORNIA 

At  the  service  of  the  public  are  the  scientific 
reference  library  and  reading  room,  the  general 
information  bureau,  the  laboratory  for  the  free 
determination  of  mineral  samples  found  in  the 
state,  and  the  largest  museum  of  mineral  speci- 
mens on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  time  and  attention 
of  the  state  mineralogist,  as  well  as  that  of  his 
technical  staff,   is  also  at  your  disposal. 

Office  hours:  9  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  daily 
Saturday,  9  a.m.*  to  12  m. 

FLETCHER   HAMILTON, 
State    Mineralogist 

Third  floor,  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
Branch     Offices:     Pacific     Finance     Building,     Los 
Angeles;  Bakersfield,  Taft,  Coalinga,  Santa  Maria, 
Santa  Paula,   Redding,  and  Auburn. 


